Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth Cosponsors Resolution in Support of Immigrant Communities, Racial Justice, and Constitutional Freedoms, and in Opposition to Authoritarian Military Occupation in Chicago
On October 16, City Council passed a resolution in support of immigrant communities, racial justice, and constitutional freedoms, and in opposition to authoritarian military occupation in Chicago. Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth cosponsored this piece of legislation which outlines the federal administration’s attempts to undermine Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, condemns military occupation in our city, and affirms the city’s intent to protect is immigrant and refugee residents. Read the full resolution below.
Resolution in Support of Immigrant Communities, Racial Justice, and Constitutional Freedoms, and in Opposition to Authoritarian Military Occupation in Chicago
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution enshrines protections of liberty, equality, and due process, and the deployment of military troops against civilian populations is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, not of democratic governance; and
WHEREAS, President Donald Trump has threatened to "straighten out" Chicago by deploying military forces into our streets, an authoritarian threat designed to intimidate the President's perceived "enemies"; and
WHEREAS, federal law prohibits the use of the U.S. Military for domestic policing except in limited circumstances expressly authorized by Congress, such as an actual emergency involving insurrection or rebellion; and
WHEREAS, the deployment of federal military forces within Chicago, without the consent of local authorities, undermines democratic norms, erodes the City's home rule authority, threatens civil liberties, and risks escalating violence rather than securing the peace; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Police Department is entrusted to enforce local and State law in the City of Chicago through civilian law enforcement guided by professional standards and community trust; and
WHEREAS, federal deployment of United States Armed Forces on the streets of Chicago disrespects and disregards the Chicago Police Department's authority and ignores the great strides the City and its Police Department have made working with community-based antiviolence organizations to lower homicides by more than 30% in the last year, which is more than double the national decline of 14% over the same time period; and
WHEREAS, Chicago is a city built by immigrants, from its earliest days shaped by the vision of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Black Haitian immigrant, and later by generations of immigrants from across the globe, whose work, culture, and family life form the backbone of the city's neighborhoods and economy; and
WHEREAS, President Trump and others have attempted to undermine Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance by scapegoating immigrants, while federal and local data show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens; and
WHEREAS, proposals to permit police cooperation with ICE for broad categories such as "gangrelated activity" or "drug offenses" risk racial profiling, unlawful detention, and violations of constitutional rights; and
WHEREAS, in the coming weeks Chicago will host numerous parades and festivities through which residents gather to celebrate their history, culture, and pride in their city; and
WHEREAS, the unprecedented presence of the military on our streets during these events would hinder participation, disrupt the flow and rhythm of community life, and diminish the spirit of togetherness that these celebrations are meant to foster; and
WHEREAS, weakening welcoming city protections or allowing collaboration with federal immigration enforcement would betray Chicago's proud history as a welcoming city, tearing families apart and undermining trust in law enforcement that is essential to solving crime; and
WHEREAS, the principles of federalism and the Tenth Amendment affirm that local governments cannot be compelled to carry out federal immigration enforcement, and defending welcoming city policies is consistent with the Constitution; and
WHEREAS, authoritarian efforts to minimize local communities are designed to criminalize and intimidate Chicagoans and immigrant communities in particular; and
WHEREAS, the use of military personnel in civilian law enforcement erodes democratic principles, diminishes public trust, and is inconsistent with community-based approaches to policing and public safety; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED:
Section 1. The City Council hereby condemns the threat of military occupation by the President of the United States as an act of authoritarianism inconsistent with American democracy.
Section 2. The City Council hereby affirms Chicago's unshakable commitment to remain a Welcoming City for all immigrants, regardless of race, religion, or country of origin.
Section 3. The City Council hereby declares that the City of Chicago will not voluntarily cooperate with any federal orders that conscript local governments into violating residents' rights, violating the Welcoming City Ordinance, or dismantling welcoming city protections, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Section 4. The City Council hereby rejects the false narratives that immigrants are to blame for crime.
Section 5. The City Council hereby pledges to defend our city, our immigrant communities, our Black and working-class neighborhoods, and our Constitution against authoritarian attempts to criminalize our neighbors.
Section 6. The City Council hereby calls upon federal, State, and local leaders to reject militarization and instead invest in proven solutions to violence, like education, jobs, healthcare, housing, and community policing
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council calls upon the Chicago Police Department to not cooperate with any unlawful or unconstitutional policing undertaken by the United States Armed Forces within the City of Chicago.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council reaffirms that the Chicago Police Department remains a civilian agency under the authority of the City of Chicago and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council calls upon the Chicago Police Department to ensure that no personnel be assigned joint patrols, arrest operations, or other law enforcement duties alongside federal military personnel or National Guard units engaged in civil immigration enforcement, and declares that nothing in this resolution shall restrict lawful and appropriate cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies (i.e. FBI, DEA, ATF) in matters consistent with applicable law and existing intergovernmental agreements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council calls upon the Mayor and Corporation Counsel to pursue all available legal and legislative means to resist coordinated efforts from the federal government that violate residents' rights including the constitutional right to peacefully assemble and protest and the right to due process.
View the resolution in PDF form here.
