Illinois Governor JB Pritzker appealed to Trump administration officials overseeing federal immigration operations in Chicago, asking them to pause their activities to give children and families “a break” to celebrate Halloween.
Pritzker, who has been consistently pushing back against the administration’s federal presence in Illinois, told reporters that he has asked Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security to “pause all of their federal agents’ operations for the entirety of the Halloween weekend.”
“The Department of Homeland Security claims their highest priority is to protect children, so today I have to ask them, please live up to those ideals,” Pritzker said in a press conference.
“Your operation has sown fear and division and chaos among law-abiding residents in our communities. 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?” Pritzker asked.
Speaking directly to Gregory Bovino, the chief Border Patrol and Customs agent overseeing operations in Chicago, Pritzker said there is no “imminent threat” that should “disrupt” the holiday for trick-or-treaters – citing recent incidents in which children were present while agents dispensed teargas.
Border Patrol has taken an increasingly larger role in immigration operations in Chicago, some of which have been subject to scrutiny. In court filings, lawyers have accused agents of indiscriminately deploying tear gas into neighborhoods and aggressively detaining people – including protesters.
A judge had initially asked Bovino to return to court every day to provide updates and turn over body camera footage to ensure agents were complying with guidelines. However, an appeals court paused that order.
In response to Pritzker, Secretary Noem said the department was “absolutely not willing” to pause any enforcement, claiming it was keeping cities and children safer. She told Fox News that not only would the activities continue, but they would “increase.”
“The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and I think unfortunate that he does not recognize how important the work that we do is,” Noem said.
The operation, known as “Midway Blitz,” is part of Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Hundreds of federal agents descended upon Chicago in September to begin conducting arrests for undocumented immigrants, many of whom the administration has characterized as criminals.
The administration asserts that they are removing “the worst of the worst,” but Pritzker and other Illinois leaders refute that.
During a Thursday press conference, Pritzker gave examples of the so-called “worst of the worst” including the father of a teenager battling cancer and the parents of three children who were reportedly left alone.
Pritzker asked that federal law enforcement suspend its activities from October 31 through November 2, particularly around homes, schools, hospitals, parks and other community gathering locations where Halloween celebrations are taking place.
“I honestly can’t even believe that I have to make this plea. This is not the America I know,” Pritzker added.
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