Kristi Noem slams Illinois governor, state’s sanctuary policies; Pritzker claps back

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in Springfield Wednesday to make remarks on Illinois’ sanctuary state policies and Gov. JB Pritzker’s leadership.

“Governor Pritzker has created a sanctuary here for those criminals and invited them here with free healthcare, free housing, free assistance and facilitated them be protected from being brought to justice. People are dying every day because of these polices,” Noem said during a press conference.

The press conference was orginally scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday outside the Governor’s Mansion, but that did not happen and it is unclear why.

Noem, along with other Trump administration officials, have argued such policies shield immigrants, accused of crimes, from facing consequence.

Among those joining the secretary on Wednesday were families, who she says, have allegedly lost loved ones at the hands of people illegally in the U.S.

Noem attacked Pritzker while at the podium, but Pritzker had some snark of his own ahead of her visit.

“We would urge all pet owners in the region to make sure all of your beloved animals are under watchful protection while the secretary is in the region.”

Pritzker’s comment making reference to controversy over Noem’s decision to kill a dog, detailed in her memoir.

The governor also released the following statement in response to Noem’s visit to Illinois:

Unlike Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, Illinois follows the law. ​ 

The Trump Administration is violating the United States Constitution, denying people due process, and disappearing law-abiding neighbors – including children who are U.S. citizens. Yet, they are taking no real action to promote public safety and deport violent criminals within the clear and defined legal process.

Trump-Noem publicity stunts do not make our communities safer or our immigration system smarter. Illinois doesn’t need to abuse power or ignore the Constitution to keep our people safe. Like the millions of Americans asking for sensible, humane immigration reform, I encourage the Secretary to spend less time performing for Fox News and more time protecting the Homeland. ​ 

Secretary Noem must have not realized she was visiting during Latino Unity Day where we come together celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of our community. Today, Secretary Noem was met by a force stronger than her: the people of Illinois. 

Illinoisans are sending a clear message to Trump’s lackeys that we will not let you mess with us without a resistance.” 
Gov. JB Pritzker

Pritzker will be heading to Washington in June to testify about Illinois’ sanctuary policies.

The U.S. House Oversight Committee requested him, the Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz and New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also held a press conference Wednesday in Springfield, seemingly fired up about Noem’s visit and the Trump administration’s handling of mass deportations.

“I think about this monster Donald Trump, and I think about these dangerously, incompetent and cruel people like Kristi Noem. Who instead of focusing on leadership and helping others and welcoming people, they are scaring the sh** out of people and sending them to other countries without due process,” Giannoulias said.

Now, Homeland Security posts pictures regularly to social media highlighting the arrests of immigrants with criminal backgrounds. But that said, the agency has refused, since January, to provide data to WGN News about the number of ICE arrests in the Chicago area, how many of those have a criminal history and how many have actually been removed from the country.