Kristi Noem, DHS Secretary | official facebook
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has drawn attention to a letter sent by Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons and Commander at Large of the U.S. Border Patrol Greg Bovino to the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune. The letter addresses an editorial published by the Tribune on September 17, titled “ICE Must Leave U.S. Citizens Alone,” which DHS says contains false claims about its law enforcement activities.
Lyons and Bovino’s letter responds to allegations that ICE and Border Patrol agents have targeted American citizens during their operations. The editorial was published as DHS law enforcement conducted Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, resulting in at least 700 arrests, including individuals described as dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
In their letter, Lyons and Bovino wrote: “Your editorial on Wednesday September 17th titled, ‘ICE Must Leave U.S. Citizens Alone’ deliberately spread lies about federal law enforcement while ignoring the thousands of Americans who have been victimized by illegal alien crime.
Instead of recognizing the risks law enforcement takes to get dangerous criminals off the streets, the Tribune attacked officers and agents for carrying out standard law enforcement practices.”
They provided details from a recent operation in Elgin, Illinois, stating: “During an operation in Elgin, Illinois on Tuesday, September 16th, federal law enforcement executed a warrant on a house as part of Operation Midway Blitz, which honors illegal alien crime victim Katie Abraham. The Trump Administration launched this operation to protect Americans from the criminal illegal aliens shielded by Illinois’ sanctuary policies. Officers and agents arrested five illegal aliens, including individuals convicted or arrested for crimes like a DUI with a child passenger, violent assault, domestic violence, and felony stalking.”
The letter further explained that two U.S. citizens present during the execution of the warrant were temporarily secured for safety reasons: “While executing the warrant, law enforcement temporarily secured two U.S. citizens who were in the house at the time. This is standard practice for all law enforcement. Breaching buildings is dangerous business. Securing all individuals in a house while executing a warrant is standard because it protects those who are not the intended target of the warrant. People often act erratically during police operations and jeopardize the safety of all involved. Securing non-targets decreases the likelihood of that danger.”
Lyons and Bovino also addressed concerns about increased attacks against ICE officials: “The Tribune’s editors should know full well that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are facing a 1000% increase in attacks, just as we saw over the weekend at Broadview processing facility. Violent rioters slashed tires and threw bottles, rocks and fireworks at law enforcement officers. Brazen lies like the ones in Wednesday’s editorial contribute directly to this increase.”
They concluded with: “DHS law enforcement put their lives on the line every single day to keep Americans safe. The Tribune should be thanking the men and women who are cleaning up our communities and restoring the rule of law.
Rapists, murderers, pedophiles, and other dangerous criminal illegal aliens are now off Illinois’ streets because of these officers. No American should be forced to share their community with criminals who shouldn’t even be here in the first place. President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the rule of law everywhere. They are protecting law-abiding Americans and law enforcement officers while doing so. An honest account of the facts would show that.”
According to DHS officials cited in recent statements following an attack at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas earlier this week, there has been a significant rise in assaults against ICE officers nationwide—reportedly up by 1000%. Secretary Noem recently called on media outlets and politicians to reduce rhetoric that could inspire such attacks.
