By Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA, on Immigration Updates
On October 8, 2025, President Donald Trump publicly called for the imprisonment of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker through a post on Truth Social, stating "Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" This statement escalated the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic officials over immigration enforcement and the deployment of federalized National Guard troops to sanctuary cities. The immediate catalyst was the arrival of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois on October 7, 2025, despite fierce state opposition. The Trump administration argued the deployment was necessary to "protect federal assets and personnel" amid protests against ICE operations, though Trump provided no evidence that the officials failed to protect agents or that such failure constituted a criminal offense. This threat follows Trump's pattern of threatening legal action against political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted days after Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to act against him.
Governor Pritzker responded defiantly, posting on X: "I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?" Mayor Johnson stated: "This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. I'm not going anywhere." On October 6, 2025, Johnson signed an executive order establishing an "ICE Free Zone" in Chicago to block immigration agents from using city property, and Illinois filed a lawsuit to prevent the troop deployment. A judge scheduled a hearing for October 9, 2025, but declined to issue a temporary restraining order. Chicago is not alone in facing federal intervention; Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and has attempted deployment to Portland, where a judge granted a restraining order. Trump's call for jailing elected officials raises constitutional concerns about separation of powers, federalism, First Amendment protections, and due process. House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to endorse or reject Trump's position. The situation remains unresolved, with courts likely serving as the primary arena for disputes over executive power, state sovereignty, and sanctuary city policies.
For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA today.
Reference:
Scott Wong & Rebecca Shabad, Trump Says Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson 'Should Be in Jail', NBC NEWS (Oct. 8, 2025), https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-says-gov-jb-pritzker-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-jail-rcna236339.
