Noem: ICE will be out in 'full force' on Halloween in Chicago
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that immigration enforcement operations will be working in “full force” in Chicago on Halloween.
In an interview on Fox News’s “America Reports,” Noem rejected a request from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) to pause Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on the holiday to let children trick or treat without fearing a confrontation with armed federal agents.
“No, we're going to be out on the streets in full force and increase our activities to make sure kids are safe,” she said, when asked whether she plans to heed Pritzker’s request. “Every day in Chicago, we're arresting murderers, child pedophiles, those who have perpetuated assault and pornography against children."
“We're going to be out there to make sure that they can be safe, enjoy the holiday, spend some time with their families and their neighbors and their communities, and they don't have to be the victim of a crime because of these illegal aliens that are in our country victimizing them,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary added.
Pritzker has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of the Trump administration and its ICE operations in Chicago, where allegations have emerged of excessive force and use of tear gas and pepper spray on civilians.
In a recent press conference, Pritzker asked Greg Bovino, the Border Patrol commander who is overseeing much of Trump’s immigration and crime crackdown, to pause operations. He also sent a letter to Noem making the same request.
“Mr. Bovino, your operation has sown fear and division and chaos among law abiding residents in our communities,” Pritzker said at the press conference. “If you are unwilling to cease operations and leave our city, can we at least agree that our children should not be victims, especially on Halloween? Can we agree that there is no imminent threat that should disrupt their holiday?”
“No child in America should have to go trick-or-treating in fear that they might be confronted with armed federal agents and have to inhale tear gas,” he continued. “I honestly can't even believe that I have to make this plea. This is not the America that I know. I ask you to restore some sanity for the sake of our children.”
Bovino earlier this week was ordered by a judge to appear in federal court on weekdays until Nov. 5 to provide a daily account of ICE’s operations in and around the Windy City amid the scrutiny.
The DHS, in a statement to The Hill, accused Pritzker of "going out of his way to smear the law enforcement officers of DHS, who are attempting to clean up the rampant crime he facilitated."
"He is pushing a false narrative that DHS is targeting schools, hospitals, and churches. This is false, he knows this, but he continues to push these lies," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin wrote. "Our officers are facing mass assaults, vehicles used as weapons, violence and only use crowd control methods as a last resort when repeated warnings have been given."
She added, "Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear."