Chicago Mayor Johnson describes City Sanctuary policies.

 

Brandon Johnson Says He’s Coordinating With Other Democrat Mayors To Thwart ICE

Harold Hutchison Media Reporter dailycaller.com January 28, 2026

Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson admitted Wednesday he was “in regular communication” with other mayors leading so-called “sanctuary cities” in efforts to impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.

President Donald Trump called for an end to “sanctuary cities” in a post on Truth Social Monday, following a series of shootings, two of them fatal, that took place in Minneapolis involving Department of Homeland Security personnel engaged in immigration enforcement operations. Johnson said during a press conference at the National Press Club he’d been talking with Democratic Mayors Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Michelle Wu of Boston about how to combat United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (RELATED: Anti-ICE Rioters Feel Emboldened After Border Patrol Leader’s Ouster, DCNF Reporter Says)

“To respond to the operation in Chicago, I leaned heavily on other cities’ responses, like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared her experience governing while the city was in Trump’s crosshairs,” Johnson said. “We’ve been in regular communication both at the executive level and the staff level with cities like Minneapolis and Portland, Oakland, Boston, and Denver and Baltimore to learn from each other’s experiences and develop strategies to protect our constituents.”

WATCH: (click URL title to view 2 minute C-span video)

The fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti took place during confrontations connected to “rapid-response” networks seeking to thwart ICE operations. Such groups monitor ICE vehicles, share the locations of ICE officers and summon mobs to confront agents as they try to arrest illegal aliens with criminal records, sometimes resulting in physical altercations, Fox News Digital reported.

The shooting of Pretti, who had a concealed carry permit, is under investigation, with two Border Patrol agents involved in the shooting being placed on administrative leave. Video shot by bystanders appeared to contradict initial statements made by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem regarding the incident, including apparently showing one Border Patrol agent in possession of Pretti’s gun before the shots were fired.

Pretti’s neighbors told the Mirror he was involved with an anti-ICE network. Pretti was injured during a previous confrontation with ICE in the days before his fatal encounter, suffering a broken rib, CNN reported.

In August, Wu refused to back down from a refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement, prompting a suit from the Department of Justice. Frey declared that Minneapolis police would not cooperate with the federal immigration enforcement operation during an interview with WCCO that aired Dec. 7, then doubled down on that refusal in a series of posts on X after meeting with border czar Tom Homan Tuesday.

In Portland, anti-ICE rioters attacked conservative journalists covering the violent protests at an ICE facility, and reportedly planned to use lasers against aircraft used by federal law enforcement agencies.

During the event, Johnson also threatened to charge ICE agents after boasting of previous measures he had ordered to impede their operations to arrest illegal immigrants.

“In August, we signed our most sweeping executive order. This executive order established what we call ICE-Free Zones, essentially prohibiting ICE and Border Patrol from staging on city properties and entering city properties without a judicial warrant,” Johnson said. “This had not been done anywhere in the country, so we had to work closely with our law department, our police department, and outside advisors to ultimately build out the infrastructure to produce and distribute ICE-free zone signage and accountability measures.” (RELATED: Anti-ICE Rioter Bites Federal Officer’s Finger Off During Minneapolis Chaos)

“We are working on additional measures that we believe will make Chicago the first city in the country to be able to effectively hold ICE and Border Patrol officers accountable for criminal misconduct,” Johnson added.

In Chicago, ICE agents have had shots fired at them while also being subjected to vehicle ramming attacks. Anti-ICE rioters also targeted an ICE facility in Chicago, with some of the rioters calling for the ICE agents to be arrested or shot in video posted online.

 

Sanctuary City policies provide a secure environment fo criminal aliens. Minneapolis is a perfect example of Democrat failure.

 

Frey hits back at Trump over immigration enforcement

By Ben Whedon justthenews.com 1-29-26

Trump previously dispatched Homan to the city to take control of the situation there amid ongoing resistance to immigration enforcement that has led to two fatalities.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday doubled down on his city's refusal to enforce federal immigration law after President Donald Trump highlighted his remarks and hinted at consequences for non-compliance with federal mandates.

"The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce fed immigration laws," Frey said on X. "I want them preventing homicides, not hunting down a working dad who contributes to MPLS & is from Ecuador. It’s similar to the policy your guy Rudy had in NYC. Everyone should feel safe calling 911."

Frey made the remarks in response to Trump saying that he was "playing with fire" after the mayor made defiant statements following his call with the president and meeting with Border Czar Tom Homan.

"Surprisingly, Mayor Jacob Frey just stated that, 'Minneapolis does not, and will not, enforce Federal Immigration Laws,'" Trump posted on Truth Social. "This is after having had a very good conversation with him. Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!"

Trump previously dispatched Homan to the city to take control of the situation there amid ongoing resistance to immigration enforcement that has led to two fatalities.

 

It is totally amazing, they walk among us! The previous administration is guilty of this national tragedy!

                                 

Minnesota’s ‘worst of the worst’: DHS highlights arrests of repeat offenders, violent criminals in Operation Metro Surge

Candace Hathaway January 27, 2026 theblaze.com

Some of those arrested were previously released from Minnesota jails.

The Department of Homeland Security highlighted several of Monday’s “worst of the worst” arrests in Minnesota.

As part of the DHS’ Operation Metro Surge, federal authorities have captured kidnappers, pedophiles, and other violent assailants, according to a press release obtained by Blaze News.

‘Our law enforcement officers are risking their lives to arrest these thugs — some RELEASED from Minnesota jails — and are saving countless American lives by getting these criminals out of our country.’

DHS reported last week that it had made 3,000 arrests over the last six weeks as part of the ongoing operation.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) highlights more worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens arrested in Minnesota yesterday during Operation Metro Surge, including those convicted of kidnapping, child rape, assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, assault, and possession of fraudulent documents,” Tuesday’s release reads.

Among those arrested on Monday was Bee Yang, an illegal alien from Thailand. Yang was issued a final order of removal in 2015 after he was convicted of numerous crimes, including first-degree kidnapping, assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, felony larceny, and larceny of a motor vehicle.

RELATED: 'You should f**king kill yourself': DHS releases terrifying audio of anti-ICE agitator threatening Minnesota agent

 

Bee Yang, Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Federal agents arrested Wilson Johny Encalada Molina, an illegal alien from Ecuador. He was issued a final order of removal in 2023 after he was charged with third-degree rape of a child under 17 years old, malicious punishment of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child.

 

Wilson Johny Encalada Molina. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Ian Mwangi Irungu, from Kenya, was also nabbed by immigration agents. He was previously convicted of selling heroin and dangerous drugs.

 

Ian Mwangi Irungu. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Melvin Yobany Hernandez Espana, from Honduras, was previously convicted of assault.

 

Melvin Yobany Hernandez Espana. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Immigration agents captured Sergio Quintero Romero, an illegal alien from Mexico with a final order of removal from 2012. He was previously apprehended by law enforcement three times for illegally entering the U.S. Romero was also accused of attempting to defraud the immigration system by presenting a fraudulent lawful permanent resident card to an immigration official.

 Sergio Quintero Romero. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

Federal law enforcement officials also nabbed Oliverio Otoniel Francisco-Esteban, an illegal alien from Mexico. He was issued a final order of removal in 2015. DHS reported that Francisco-Esteban has been removed from the U.S. five times, and he was previously convicted of three counts of driving under the influence of liquor, possessing fraudulent immigration documents, illegal entry, and re-entry. Francisco-Esteban currently has an outstanding warrant in Ohio for failure to appear.

RELATED: ICE unleashed: Agents can once again fend off agitators after court torpedoes Biden judge's injunction

 

Oliverio Otoniel Francisco-Esteban. Image source: Department of Homeland Security

“Just yesterday, DHS law enforcement arrested several repeat offenders including a criminal illegal alien convicted of kidnapping, robbery, felony larceny, and assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated in the Tuesday press release.

“Our law enforcement officers are risking their lives to arrest these thugs — some RELEASED from Minnesota jails — and are saving countless American lives by getting these criminals out of our country. 70% of all ICE arrests nationwide are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. Check out more of the worst of the worst we arrested in Minnesota at wow.dhs.gov/Minnesota,” McLaughlin added.

 

Sanctuary policies of cities and states are part of this horrific problem - so why end them? Egad! Total insanity rules in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

 

Frey to Homan: Minneapolis ‘will not enforce federal immigration laws’

by Ashleigh Fields - 01/27/26 thehill.com

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) on Tuesday said he spoke with border czar Tom Homan and reinforced that the city would not change its sanctuary policies in exchange for the departure of federal immigration authorities.

“I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers,” Frey wrote in a post on the social media platform X.

“I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe,” he added.  

Frey said that city leaders will continue to stay in conversation with Homan and his team. Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) met with the border czar for a “productive” conversation earlier in the day after two U.S. citizens were killed by immigration authorities in Minneapolis. 

Trump administration officials, including Homan and Attorney General Pam Bondi, have urged local officials to comply with requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help detain migrants without legal status in the area. 

During a Sunday press conference, Walz told reporters that the state continues to comply with obligations mandated by federal law, including turning over inmates who are determined to be residing in the country illegally. 

“They’re taking credit for people that we’ve had in jail for a long time,” Walz said, referencing ICE touting the number of detainments in the state. 

“We always hand them over,” he added.

The Minnesota governor, who chose to bypass a reelection bid amid a statewide fraud scandal, urged Bondi to focus on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files instead of local immigration operations.

“I would just give a pro tip to the Attorney General, there’s two million documents in the Epstein files we’re still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those,” he said during the press conference.