Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) warned the Trump administration that his local law enforcement will defy his mass deportation orders and “stand up for those law-abiding, undocumented people.”
CNN’s “State of the Union” host Dana Bash asked Sunday, “How are you preparing, particularly if they do target schools, churches and small businesses as they are now allowed to do?”
“Well, let me start by being clear that when we’re talking about violent criminals who have been convicted and who are undocumented, we don’t want them in our state,” Pritzker replied. “We want them out of the country. We hope they do get deported. And if that’s who they’re picking up, we’re all for it.”
“They show up with a warrant, and we’re going to hand over people who are in our prisons or in our jails who fit that description. Now, what they’re also doing, though, and it’s quite disturbing, is they’re going after people who are law-abiding, who are holding down jobs, who have families here who may have been here for a decade or two decades, and they’re often our neighbors and our friends.”
The Democrat governor went on to assert that Trump should grant these “law-abiding” illegal aliens with pathways to citizenship rather than deport them.
“And why are we going after them? These are not people who are causing problems in our country. What we need is a path to citizenship for them,” he said. “We need to secure our border. We need to get rid of the violent criminals, but we also need to protect people, at least the residents of Illinois and all across the nation, who are just doing what we hope that immigrants will do.”
“We also have a law on the books in Illinois that says that our local law enforcement will stand up for those law-abiding, undocumented people in our state who are doing the right thing,” he continued. “And we’re not going to help federal officials just drag them away because somebody pointed at them and said, oh, that person’s brown or that person’s not from here. Check it out. Maybe they’re undocumented.”
Pritzker’s defiant remarks are setting up a government showdown with the Trump administration that could result in him facing legal action.
The day after Trump was sworn in, his Department of Justice issued a memo warning local and state officials that they would face prosecution if they defy the federal government’s immigration orders.
“Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands or requests,” the memo states.
Border Czar Tom Homan in the days after Trump won the election in November also warned Democrat mayors and governors they could face jail time if they defy President Trump’s deportation orders.
“They need to review this Title 8, United States Code 1324 (iii) – read about that and don’t cross that line, because it is a felony to harbor and conceal an illegal alien from ICE,” Homan told Fox News.
WOAH! Tom Homan warns mayors and governors: “Review Title 8 U.S.C. § 1324 – It’s a felony to harbor illegal aliens. Don’t cross that line.” pic.twitter.com/XRKlGCjVE3
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 19, 2024
Specifically in response to Pritzker’s previous remarks claiming his state wouldn’t cooperate with ICE on deportations, Homan responded, “Game on.”
“We’ve got no problem going through him. I’ve got 20,000 men and women in ICE who are going to do their job with no apology,” Homan said. “And if any governor wants to stand in the way, go ahead and do it. We’ll see what happens. We’re not gonna be intimidated.”
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