In a fiery rebuke that’s sending shockwaves through Chicago politics, Alderman Anthony Napolitano — a former police officer and firefighter turned Republican alderman — has accused far-left Mayor Brandon Johnson of endangering federal law enforcement officers for the sake of politics.
The outrage erupted after a shocking incident in which ICE agents were surrounded and attacked by an angry mob that blocked them in with ten cars during a tense confrontation in the city. As the agents called for help, Chicago police officers were ordered to stand down — a directive that allegedly came straight from the mayor’s office.
Napolitano, speaking to Fox News Digital, didn’t mince words. “When someone calls for help, our guys go. Period,” he said. “There’s no way in hell that our officers would not have responded to that call for help unless there was a directive. And I believe that directive came from the mayor’s office.”
The alderman’s disgust was palpable as he described the city’s failure to protect law enforcement as “the most disgusting act I have ever seen in my 50 years of being alive and my 25 years of working for this city.”
He continued, “This is rock bottom. This is political oversight determining how our police react to situations — and it’s absolutely wrong.”
Under Mayor Johnson, Chicago’s leadership has taken an increasingly hostile stance toward federal immigration enforcement, proudly labeling the city a “sanctuary” and vowing to resist cooperation with ICE. But critics like Napolitano argue that these policies have crossed a dangerous line — putting politics above public safety and turning police officers into pawns of a radical agenda.
“This is pure politics controlling our police,” Napolitano said. “A lot of people at City Hall feel the same way, even if they won’t say it out loud.”
The former cop didn’t stop there. He accused Johnson’s administration of intentionally sowing chaos to make federal intervention look bad. “The mayor’s administration is trying to create chaos — so that federal help looks catastrophic instead of helpful,” he explained. “It’s politics over public safety, and it’s outrageous. Officers swear an oath to the Constitution, not to the mayor.”
Napolitano also emphasized the need for federal agents in Chicago, pointing to the city’s spiraling crime crisis and gang violence. “I absolutely love seeing federal agents deployed,” he said. “It’s needed more than you know. We have over 170,000 gang members already, and now we’re seeing an influx of illegal aliens — many of whom are affiliated with gangs — fighting for territory and drug profits. It’s a major issue, and we need the feds to help clean it up.”
The alderman’s comments reflect growing frustration among Chicago’s residents and law enforcement community, who see Johnson’s progressive policies as catastrophic for a city already on the brink.
In the name of ideology, Chicago’s mayor appears willing to sacrifice law and order, leaving even federal agents defenseless in the streets. Napolitano’s message is clear: Chicago doesn’t need more politics — it needs leadership, courage, and a return to common sense.
