Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs | https://www.dhs.gov/
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has made several public statements criticizing federal law enforcement operations in Chicago, which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called inaccurate and misleading.
In recent appearances, including an interview on CNN’s State of the Union and a press conference, Governor Pritzker claimed that federal agencies were conducting unconstitutional actions in Illinois. He alleged that agents from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been deployed to Chicago, causing violence and chaos.
The DHS responded by rejecting these claims. The department stated that President Trump is authorized under the Constitution to deploy federal forces to protect government property. “Our message to JB Pritzker: Get out of your mansion and see Chicago,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “If J.B. Pritzker actually walked the streets of his own city, he would see domestic terrorists and violent rioters attacking police officers and the scourge of violent crime as a direct result of his own policies.”
DHS also addressed allegations regarding racial profiling during Operation Midway Blitz, which began last month in Illinois. According to DHS, ICE and CBP officers have arrested over 1,000 individuals identified as illegal aliens with serious criminal records, including gang members and individuals convicted of violent crimes such as child abuse and murder.
The department emphasized that immigration enforcement actions are based on legal status rather than race or ethnicity. It stated that law enforcement uses “reasonable suspicion” for arrests in accordance with the Fourth Amendment.
Governor Pritzker also claimed that U.S. citizens were being detained during these operations, citing an incident at an apartment building in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood where residents were allegedly mistreated. DHS countered this claim by stating that the operation targeted non-citizens involved in criminal activity and resulted in 37 arrests of foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds.
Addressing further allegations about mistreatment during raids—including claims that children were zip-tied—Assistant Secretary McLaughlin said: “Children were never zip tied. This is a shameful and disgusting lie.” DHS explained that viral images supporting this claim originated from a parody video on social media rather than actual events.
Regarding a fatal shooting involving ICE officers in Franklin Park, Illinois, DHS reported that Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez was shot after he allegedly drove his car at officers during an attempted arrest. Officers provided medical assistance following the incident.
In response to accusations about law enforcement escalating violence against protesters in Broadview, Illinois, DHS described incidents where agents faced attacks from individuals armed with vehicles and weapons. One suspect was hospitalized after being shot by CBP agents while another was apprehended by authorities.
Finally, addressing concerns about journalists’ safety during protests, DHS stated its commitment to upholding constitutional rights while noting increased assaults against ICE officers during recent operations.
