Chicago Mayor Johnson Signs Executive Order Requiring Contractors to Disclose ICE Ties, Diversity Data

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Wednesday that will require companies seeking city contracts to disclose whether they do business with federal immigration authorities, a move that immediately drew sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security.

The order, announced at a press conference held at Arise Chicago, a nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights, represents the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between Chicago's city government and federal immigration enforcement agencies.

Under the new requirements, contractors seeking deals with the city must report whether they have received more than $500,000 from government or law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Companies must also disclose whether they have faced legal proceedings related to excessive force, unlawful detention, unconstitutional policing, discrimination, or other civil rights violations.

Large corporations with net income exceeding $1 billion must provide detailed information about their leadership diversity, board composition, and diversity policies—unless already covered by existing Illinois reporting laws. All contractors must also report their efforts to hire and promote formerly incarcerated individuals, with updates required at least annually.

Johnson defended the order as a necessary step toward accountability and equity.

"If you want to do business with this city, we want to know whether the people leading your company reflect the diversity of the communities whose tax dollars are paying your contracts," Johnson said.

The order also directs Chicago's chief procurement officer to develop rules within 90 days that would bar vendors found to have committed public integrity violations, workplace discrimination, or wage theft within the previous five years.

Johnson framed the policy as a direct response to what he characterized as corporate overreach in federal policy, arguing that Chicago should leverage its purchasing power to advance its values. The mayor has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's efforts to end federal reporting requirements on workforce demographics.

The announcement was joined by the campaign Not With Our Money, which has pushed for conditions on city contractors. According to the group's research, $3.19 billion in Chicago contracts are held by 42 firms that also conduct business with ICE.

The order stops short of making ties to ICE an automatic disqualifier. However, it makes the required disclosures public and establishes the other violations as grounds for excluding contractors.

DHS pushback came swiftly. A department spokesperson accused Johnson of penalizing companies that cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

"If Mayor Johnson wants to lecture anyone about taxpayer dollars, remember what he is: a sanctuary politician who bullies American companies with money that isn't his. Chicago takes the federal check, but it won't enforce the federal law," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement added: "In case Chicago's mayor forgot, an oath of office is a commitment to upholding the law, not encouraging criminal illegal aliens to break it."

The department also signaled its intention to continue enforcement operations regardless of city opposition.

"Make no mistake, we will not be deterred. Under President Trump, ICE will keep enforcing the law in Chicago, whether City Hall likes it or not," the spokesperson said.

This is not the first clash between Johnson's administration and federal immigration authorities. Last October, the mayor barred ICE from using city parking lots and garages for operations—a policy that a federal agent said forced agents to stage in public areas and created operational risks.

Johnson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.