On his first day back in office, President Donald J. Trump took swift action to fulfill his promise of securing our borders and deporting illegal immigrants, many of whom have crossed into the country due to the lax border policies of the Biden-Harris administration. Just weeks into his term, thousands of illegal immigrants, the majority of whom have committed violent crimes—including murder, drug offenses, and sexual assault—have been apprehended and sent back to their countries of origin.
While most state governors, even some from Democrat-led states, have cooperated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify, detain, and deport criminals who are not U.S. citizens, Illinois stands out for its lack of cooperation. Under Governor JB Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois has become a sanctuary for dangerous criminals, with the governor actively blocking efforts to remove them from our communities.
Since taking office six years ago, Governor Pritzker has doubled down on policies that prevent local law enforcement from working with federal immigration authorities. Rather than supporting ICE’s efforts, Pritzker has recently issued directives that hinder law enforcement’s ability to identify and report illegal immigrants—particularly those convicted of violent crimes—making it nearly impossible for officers to enforce federal immigration law. Furthermore, the state is spending millions of taxpayer dollars on campaigns to teach illegal immigrants how to evade detection by the police.
Illinois law enforcement officers now find themselves in a troubling position: they must choose between upholding their oath to serve and protect the public or facing retribution from their own state government for working with federal authorities. This is not leadership by Governor Pritzker; it’s a reckless disregard for public safety. Pritzker’s policies are putting violent criminals over the well-being of Illinois families and communities, forcing law enforcement officers to betray their duties.
The reckless actions of Governor Pritzker and his Democrat allies in the state Senate and House have made Illinois a haven for criminals, endangering public safety and undermining the very officers entrusted with protecting our communities. It’s a betrayal of both the law and the people they have sworn to protect.
Recent polling from the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago shows overwhelming public support for deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes. In a January 9-13 poll this year, 83% of respondents expressed support for deporting immigrant criminals, with 89% of Republicans, 79% of Democrats, and 77% of Independents agreeing. This begs the question: Governor, if the majority of Illinoisans—including a sizable majority of those from your own political party—support deporting immigrant criminals, why does your administration continue to direct state officials to obstruct federal immigration efforts and shield these criminals?
Governor Pritzker’s priorities are clear. He has chosen political maneuvering over public safety, criminals over citizens, and posturing over protecting the families of Illinois. In his view, criminals take precedence, political games come second, and the safety of Illinois families is relegated to the bottom of his list.
Illinoisans deserve better. We deserve safe streets, accountability for those who commit violent crimes, and strong support for law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. Governor Pritzker’s policies fail to deliver on those promises, leaving Illinois families vulnerable and unprotected.
