Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has rolled out a new “Know Your Rights” campaign aimed at protecting city residents from federal immigration actions. The initiative, which follows a viral video where Johnson defended immigrants, seeks to inform residents of their legal protections under Chicago’s sanctuary city status.
The campaign, available in English, French, and Spanish, includes over 400 ads across the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) system and a series of Q&A events to educate the public on their rights. It also includes measures to ensure city police won’t cooperate with ICE requests.
Johnson’s efforts come amid heightened tensions over federal immigration policies reinstated by President Donald Trump, which have sparked controversy nationwide. The mayor and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have firmly opposed Trump’s hardline stance, emphasizing the city’s commitment to protecting immigrants.
The initiative also comes in response to a Department of Justice memo threatening legal action against states and localities that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement. However, critics argue that the memo violates states’ rights, citing the Tenth Amendment and local autonomy.
Chicago’s campaign underscores the ongoing clash between local sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement, highlighting the divide between city leadership’s dedication to immigrant rights and the federal government’s push for stricter measures. The city’s commitment to its “Welcoming City” ordinance is now at the forefront of the national immigration debate.
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