Pritzker Comments On Continued ICE Operations
In an escalation that few could have predicted just a few years ago, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is openly entertaining the idea of prosecuting federal immigration officials—specifically agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—for doing their jobs.
The move marks a dramatic challenge to federal authority, rooted in the ongoing clash between sanctuary jurisdictions and the enforcement of immigration law.
Speaking to FOX 32 Chicago this week, Pritzker didn’t mince words. “The tables will turn one day,” he warned, suggesting that while ICE and DHS agents may not face legal consequences under the current administration, they could be prosecuted under a future one. “We’re looking at doing that,” he confirmed, referring to potential charges against federal agents operating in Illinois.
His remarks indicate ongoing discussions with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and local state’s attorneys about legal pathways to hold federal immigration enforcers accountable—ironically, for enforcing existing federal law.
The stated aim, according to Pritzker, is to ensure these agents “follow the law”—a curious position considering the agents are acting under the authority of federal immigration statutes.
The governor also went further, accusing President Donald Trump of “causing mayhem” in Illinois by allowing ICE to conduct enforcement operations within the state’s borders. Pritzker warned of an impending authoritarian regime, framing Trump’s directives as politically motivated and destabilizing.
His language, while rhetorically powerful, places state leadership in direct opposition to federal authority—an extraordinary position in the context of national immigration enforcement.
The backlash came swiftly. Tom Homan, former acting director of ICE and current advisor on Trump’s immigration policy, responded in a scathing interview with Breitbart News, slamming Pritzker, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “You’re welcome for us making your communities safer,” Homan quipped. “If you want to sit on the sidelines and watch us make your communities safer, have at it. Shame on you.”
As of October 1, ICE has arrested more than 800 illegal aliens in Illinois—demonstrating a continued federal presence despite local resistance. Many of these arrests involved individuals with prior deportation orders, criminal records, or repeated immigration violations.