Chicago Leaders Move to Strengthen Welcoming City Ordinance After Minneapolis Killing

Proposal would give oversight agency power to investigate violations by police and officials

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:15pm

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Chicago city leaders are moving to strengthen enforcement of the Welcoming City Ordinance, the city's sanctuary policy, following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis over the weekend. A City Council committee advanced a measure that would give the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) the authority to investigate alleged violations of the ordinance by police officers or other city officials.

Why it matters

The proposed changes are aimed at increasing accountability for city officials and police officers who may violate the city's sanctuary law. Supporters say the measure is urgent in light of the events in Minneapolis, where Pretti was killed.

The details

Under the proposal, COPA would be able to investigate cases in which police officers or other city officials cooperate with federal immigration enforcement in ways that violate the Welcoming City Ordinance. The ordinance prohibits local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration law unless federal agents present a judicial warrant.

  • The City Council committee debated and advanced the measure on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
  • Mayor Brandon Johnson said his administration is reviewing potential executive orders that could allow the city to pursue legal action against federal immigration agents who violate the law.

The players

Welcoming City Ordinance

Chicago's sanctuary policy that prohibits local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration law unless federal agents present a judicial warrant.

Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA)

The oversight agency that would be given the authority to investigate alleged violations of the Welcoming City Ordinance by police officers or other city officials under the proposed measure.

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who said his administration is reviewing potential executive orders to hold federal immigration agents accountable for violating the city's sanctuary law.

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What they’re saying

“My team is working overtime to locate measures that I could use through my executive authority to not just hold people accountable, but to ensure there is a mechanism in which that can take place. So we'll continue to explore all options and take a deep look into what we can do to not just investigate, but to prosecute.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (fox32chicago.com)

What’s next

The measure passed out of committee on Tuesday and will now move to the full City Council for consideration. Several aldermen who have previously supported changes to the ordinance that would give police more discretion to pursue undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes declined to comment on the proposal, signaling a potential political shift following the events in Minneapolis.

The takeaway

The proposed changes to the Welcoming City Ordinance highlight the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the balance between public safety and protecting undocumented immigrants. The events in Minneapolis have added urgency to the discussion, as Chicago leaders seek to strengthen accountability and ensure the city's sanctuary policies are upheld.