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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Appeal to Trump administration federal immigration officials operating in chicagoThey were asked to stop their activities to give children and families a “vacation” to celebrate Halloween.
Pritzker, Who has been continuously opening a front against the administrationfederal presence in Illinois, telling reporters he is Asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security will “pause the operations of all of its federal agents for the Halloween weekend.”
“The Department of Homeland Security claim that his top priority is to protect children, so today I have to ask him, please hold on to those ideals,” Pritzker said in a Press conference.
“Your operation has created fear, division, and chaos among law-abiding residents in our communities. If you are unwilling to shut down the operation and leave our city, can we at least agree that our children should not suffer, especially on Halloween?” Pritzker asked.
Speaking Straight to Gregory BovinoPritzker, the chief Border Patrol and Customs agent overseeing operations in Chicago, said there is no “imminent threat” that would “disrupt” the holiday for trick-or-treaters — citing recent incidents in which children were present when agents fired teargas.
Border Patrol has played an increasingly larger role in immigration operations in Chicago, some of which are subject to investigation. In court filings, lawyers have accused agents of indiscriminately firing tear gas into neighborhoods and aggressively detaining people, including protesters.
A judge initially asked Bovino to return to court every day to provide updates and turn over body camera footage to ensure agents were complying with the guidelines. However, an appeals court blocked that order.
In response to Pritzker, Secretary Noem said the department was “not at all willing” to stop any enforcement, claiming it was keeping cities and children safe. He told Fox News that not only would the activities continue, but they would “increase.”
“The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for this is shameful and I think it’s unfortunate that he doesn’t recognize how important the work that we do is,” Noem said.
The operation, known as the “Midway Blitz”, is part of Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Hundreds of federal agents arrived in Chicago in September and began arresting undocumented immigrants, many of whom the administration has labeled as criminals.
The administration claims they are removing “the worst of the worst,” but Pritzker and other Illinois leaders deny this.
During a Thursday press conference, Pritzker cited so-called “worst-of-the-worst” examples A teen’s father is battling cancer and the parents of three children who were reportedly left alone.
Pritzker asked that federal law enforcement suspend their activities from October 31 to November 2, especially around homes, schools, hospitals, parks and other community gathering places where Halloween celebrations are taking place.
Pritzker said, “I honestly can’t even believe I have to make this argument. This is not the America I know.”