The Department of Homeland Security has placed blame on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the state itself for not cooperating with ICE. This criticism emerged after the release of an undocumented immigrant, who had previously been convicted of child sexual abuse, despite federal requests for his transfer to their custody.
Both Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have publicly condemned the immigration enforcement policies of the Trump administration. Johnson has drawn parallels between Trump’s America and the Confederacy, citing a perceived injustice in immigration practices.
According to Assistant Secretary of State Lauren Biss, “Governor Pritzker continues to refuse to do his job to protect the public from illegal alien crimes, choosing instead to smear our law enforcement agencies.” This statement underscores Biss’s frustration with Pritzker’s approach to public safety and cooperation with federal authorities.
Giovanni-Quiroa, the individual in question, is a Guatemalan national who faced serious charges for aggravated sexual abuse of a young child and had previously served time for gun offenses. He had been released, overlooked by state policies designed to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Biss questioned why an investigation into the policies allowing Quiroa’s release was not initiated, emphasizing the danger posed to communities. She urged Pritzker to take action, stating that releasing individuals like Quiroa is unacceptable.
DHS confirmed that ICE agents arrested Quiroa after he briefly evaded capture. Biss criticized what she sees as sanctuary policies, which she argues protect criminal immigrants and allow them to reoffend—placing innocent people at risk.
Previously, ICE reached out to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, asking local law enforcement to respect ICE detainers, highlighting that over 4,000 undocumented immigrants are currently in state custody. Quiroa entered the U.S. illegally during the Bush administration and, according to Biss, benefits from the Illinois Trust Act, a law that limits state cooperation with federal immigration efforts.
During a recent operation, Raoul reiterated the need for Illinois law enforcement to uphold public safety, despite the provisions of the Trust Act. This law aims to balance welcoming immigrants while ensuring local communities remain safe.
Fox News Digital reached out to Pritzker, Johnson, and Raoul for their thoughts on the matter, but responses were not immediately available. The Trust Act, after being signed into law in 2017 by then-Governor Rauner, was intended to help local law enforcement focus on violent crime rather than immigration issues.
In previous court rulings, concerns about the validity of ICE’s detainment procedures have been raised, highlighting ongoing tensions between state policies and federal immigration enforcement.
