Border Czar Homan Blasts Illinois Governor Pritzker Over Sanctuary Policies
Former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border security expert, Tom Homan, has launched a scathing attack on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker over the state’s sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Homan’s criticism follows a press conference led by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who joined "Angel families" – families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants – to denounce Illinois’ sanctuary status.
Homan accuses Pritzker of misleading the public about the extent of Illinois’ sanctuary policies and their impact on public safety. He alleges that officials in Chicago, a major hub for migrants, are deliberately hindering federal efforts to apprehend and deport dangerous criminals.
"He continues to lie about sanctuary city status in the state, in Chicago especially," Homan stated during an interview. He recounted a specific operation in Chicago shortly after President Trump took office, where ICE agents arrested multiple individuals, including convicted murderers and child predators, who were allegedly released back into the community due to Cook County’s refusal to honor ICE detainers. ICE detainers are requests for local law enforcement to hold individuals suspected of being in the country illegally until ICE can take custody.
The controversy intensified after Governor Noem held a press conference near the governor’s mansion, flanked by Angel families, to highlight the tragic consequences of Illinois’ sanctuary policies. The press conference took place near the site where Emma Shafer, a 24-year-old woman, was allegedly stabbed to death by Gabriel Calixto Pichardo, an undocumented immigrant wanted on multiple first-degree murder charges and an aggravated domestic battery charge. Noem was also joined by family members of Denny McCann and Jimmy Walden, who also lost their lives due to crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
Noem directly challenged Governor Pritzker, urging him to abandon what she called "dangerous sanctuary policies." She questioned the compassion of those who support sanctuary policies, asking where the compassion is for the families who have suffered irreparable losses due to the actions of undocumented criminals.
One member of an Angel family passionately called on Governor Pritzker to prioritize federal law and deport all undocumented immigrants, regardless of age.
Governor Pritzker responded to the criticism with a statement defending Illinois’ policies and accusing the Trump administration of violating the constitutional right to due process. He asserted that Illinois follows the law, unlike Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, and accused the Trump administration of denying due process to immigrants, including children who are U.S. citizens. Pritzker further claimed that the administration was failing to prioritize public safety by focusing on deporting law-abiding residents instead of violent criminals.
Homan vehemently rejected Pritzker’s claims, calling them "insulting" to the men and women of ICE and the Border Patrol who work to enforce immigration laws and protect public safety. He reiterated the Trump administration’s focus on prioritizing public safety and national security threats, citing the arrests made in Chicago as evidence of ICE’s commitment to removing dangerous individuals from the streets.
Homan also addressed concerns about the deportation of U.S. citizen children, clarifying that ICE’s policy is to keep families together whenever possible. He stated that in cases where an undocumented parent is deported and requests that their U.S. citizen child accompany them, ICE will honor that request. He criticized the narrative that ICE is separating families, arguing that the agency is often trying to accommodate the wishes of the parents and keep families together.
The debate over Illinois’ sanctuary policies reflects a broader national divide on immigration enforcement. Supporters of sanctuary policies argue that they promote trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, encouraging immigrants to report crimes without fear of deportation. They also argue that local resources should be focused on addressing local crime, rather than enforcing federal immigration laws.
Opponents of sanctuary policies argue that they undermine federal law, protect criminals, and endanger public safety. They maintain that all levels of government should cooperate to enforce immigration laws and remove dangerous individuals from the country. The debate is further complicated by legal and constitutional questions about the extent to which states and localities can be compelled to enforce federal immigration laws. The tragic stories of Angel families add an emotional dimension to the debate, highlighting the human cost of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and fueling calls for stricter immigration enforcement.
