Pritzker calls ICE operation in Chicago an ‘unconstitutional occupation’

CHICAGO (WTVO) — CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday continued to condemn the federal government’s immigration enforcement actions in Chicago.

In a Facebook post published Thursday afternoon, Pritzker accused to the Trump administration of violating the United States Constitution.

“We stand together — elected officials, business leaders, the faith community, law enforcement, educators, and more — in our opposition to the abuses of power by Donald Trump’s administration,” the governor posted. “We’re telling this unwarranted and unconstitutional occupation to stay out of Chicago.”

Earlier this week, Pritzker told reporters ICE’s operations in the Windy City have nothing to do with law and order. The governor accused federal agents of shaking down citizens for “not being white.”

“Just a year ago, that was illegal in the United States,” he said. “Now, ICE is making it commonplace. That’s not making America great.”

The governor’s remarks come amid growing tension between Illinois officials and the Trump administration over the deployment of federal agents and the proposed arrival of National Guard troops in Chicago. Over the weekend, ICE agents in tactical gear were seen patrolling downtown areas including Michigan Avenue, the Riverwalk, and near Trump Tower.

Pritzker has repeatedly voiced opposition to federal military involvement in Illinois, particularly in Chicago. Ahead of ICE’s arrival, he revealed that the Department of Homeland Security had sent a memo to the Department of Defense requesting the deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois to “protect ICE personnel and facilities.”

The governor has accused Trump of deliberately using ICE to sow chaos in Chicago as a pretext for deploying the National Guard.

“It’s a pretext for bringing troops into the city and normalizing the militarization of our cities, and we just won’t allow that,” Pritzker said during Sept. 29 press conference.

As of this report, it is not clear if Trump plans to send the National Guard to Chicago.