ICE Operations Continue in Chicago After Shooting as Governor Expresses Concern Over Rising Tensions and Fear
Governor warns ongoing immigration enforcement is fueling fear among families and students in Illinois
CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday he expects U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to continue around Chicago as the federal government steps up enforcement against undocumented immigrants.
Speaking at a roundtable at Harold Washington College, Pritzker highlighted growing anxiety among local students and families. “Students and families are genuinely afraid,” he said, stressing the human toll of federal immigration actions.
His comments came after an ICE agent shot and killed a man in Franklin Park during an attempted arrest. Federal officials said the man drove toward agents and dragged one from his vehicle. Pritzker criticized ICE for not being transparent about the episode. “If this were the Chicago Police Department, if this were the sheriff’s office in Cook County, if this were Illinois State Police, you would have had a lot more information already released, but apparently ICE is unwilling to provide the transparency that I think the American public and the public here deserves,” he said. “I know that there is an ICE agent who was taken to the hospital; I don’t currently know that person’s condition, don’t exactly know what the injuries were.”
Along with comments on ICE enforcement, Pritzker addressed the recent shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and urged calm as political violence rises. He said he’s seen an uptick in threats but feels secure because of his security detail. “I feel safe because I'm protected, my family feels safe because we're protected,” he said. “But the number of threats and the number of people who seem to want to engage in political violence has increased substantially. I would like very much for people to just take a breath, take a step back, and recognize that there's political violence that occurs against people on both sides, and our country would be a lot better off if people would see that democracy is really the method by which we avoid political violence.”
His remarks underscore growing tension in Illinois as federal immigration enforcement continues. Local leaders and educators are urging ICE to communicate more clearly and be more transparent to ease fear among students and families.
This whole thing is beyond talking. Action needs to be taken, in the courts, on the streets, wherever. DHS is out of control, arresting very few actual criminals, and terrorizing those who are legally here. It has been substantiated that many of these agents are failed cops, ex-felons, and contractors, which in and of itself, is illegal. Entering residences, even with warrants, is illegal, if the residents don't give permission. All of these laws are readily available to read online. Guess ICE agents don't bother. They are ill-trained, violent, and racist. Shame, shame, shame on each and every one of them. Why in the hell does Noem still have a job??? She has to live with this unconstitutional abomination, together with her lover Corey. Do they really have that much hate in them?