Pritzker: “In President Trump’s head, I’m living rent-free”
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker reacted to a recent immigration raid by the Trump administration in Chicago by suggesting that both federal and local governments need to focus on removing dangerous individuals from the streets.
On Thursday, Governor Pritzker dismissed President Trump’s assertion that ICE agents were targeting the “worst of the worst” in their crackdown on illegal immigration in Illinois. He stated, “They are literally targeting black and brown people because of the color of their skin,” during an interview on “Special Report.”
Pritzker, who established the Illinois State Accountability Commission to monitor ICE officers’ behavior, mentioned that there are ongoing instances of misconduct that need to be addressed. He drew a stark comparison between the president’s ICE strategy and the actions seen in Nazi Germany, describing ICE agents as “thugs” working for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
While discussing these actions, Pritzker told anchor Bret Baier that the state still backs law enforcement when it comes to judicial warrants for deporting violent offenders. “We want the bad guys out of the city,” he asserted, adding, “What we don’t want is for people to be racially profiled. That’s what’s happening right now.”
When pressed about his analogy regarding ICE officers, he maintained his position, emphasizing the harmful consequences of their actions. “I’m talking about what they were doing, disenfranchising people, arresting individuals, demanding documents,” he explained.
He elaborated that such behaviors are reminiscent of historical authoritarian regimes, warning that this could signify troubling developments for the country and its constitutional republic.
The governor characterized his comments as a necessary response to the troubling actions of law enforcement, suggesting that it isn’t fair to paint every ICE officer with the same brush simply because of the actions of a few. No one in Washington, according to him, seems to hold these “bad people” accountable for their actions against innocent individuals.
Pritzker raised concerns about potential threats to the upcoming election, reminding audiences of Trump’s allegations of fraud following the 2020 election. He recounted discussions involving Trump and former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, hinting that these conversations about military intervention to manipulate election outcomes could resurface.
In a discussion about troop deployments in blue cities, Pritzker argued that the intent isn’t about combating crime. When asked about the positive actions taken by Trump, he acknowledged that illegal border crossings have declined but stressed the lack of comprehensive immigration reform pushed through Congress.
Reflecting on the history of immigration legislation, Pritzker noted that it’s been four decades since meaningful bipartisan support was achieved and urged for collaboration on solutions instead of military interventions.
Currently, Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard to Illinois is stalled due to legal challenges, with ongoing deliberations in the Supreme Court regarding the case.
