Chicago Mayor Defends Executive Order to Hold Federal Agents Accountable

Johnson says order is about accountability, not politics, after concerns raised by county prosecutor

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is defending his executive order aimed at holding federal immigration agents accountable for alleged criminal activity while on the job. The order has faced some pushback from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, which raised concerns about a provision directing police to gather and preserve evidence of federal misconduct. Johnson says the order is about ensuring accountability and not about politics, citing the death of a local resident at the hands of federal agents.

Why it matters

The mayor's order highlights growing tensions between local and federal law enforcement, as well as questions around jurisdiction and accountability for alleged misconduct by federal agents. It also reflects broader debates around immigration enforcement and the role of local authorities in overseeing federal activities within their communities.

The details

Johnson's executive order directs Chicago police to gather and preserve evidence of alleged criminal activity by federal immigration agents, and to refer that evidence to the county prosecutor's office. The county prosecutor raised concerns that this could interfere with their ability to effectively prosecute cases. Johnson says the order is only about ensuring the evidence is available, and that the prosecutor's office will decide whether to pursue any investigations or prosecutions.

  • In the fall of 2025, federal agents were involved in the death of local resident Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez during a traffic stop in Franklin Park.
  • On February 10, 2026, Mayor Johnson defended his executive order in response to the prosecutor's concerns.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who issued the executive order aimed at holding federal immigration agents accountable for alleged criminal activity.

Cook County State's Attorney's Office

The county prosecutor's office that raised concerns about Mayor Johnson's executive order, stating that it could interfere with their ability to effectively prosecute cases involving federal agents.

Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez

A local resident who was killed by federal agents during a traffic stop in Franklin Park in the fall of 2025, which the mayor cited as an example of the need for accountability.

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What they’re saying

“Here's where I'm calling for us to be aligned, and I believe that we are, that when you have a father that's dropping his children off to school, and then he gets murdered, and then the federal government lies about it, we have to hold those individuals accountable.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (abc7chicago.com)

“This does not necessarily have to involve the mayor giving specific direction to what gets passed along. It's a matter of ensuring that the evidence is there and that the state's attorney, once that evidence is received, can decide they're going to move forward with an investigation or prosecution.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (abc7chicago.com)

What’s next

The executive order is now under a 30-day review period that could result in clarifications to make sure that police and everyone else involved in the investigation process are clear on their roles and responsibilities.

The takeaway

Mayor Johnson's executive order highlights the ongoing tensions between local and federal law enforcement, as well as the challenges of ensuring accountability for alleged misconduct by federal agents operating within a city's jurisdiction. The review process will aim to clarify the roles and responsibilities of various agencies involved in investigating and prosecuting any potential wrongdoing.