Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem has urged Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to repeal the state’s sanctuary policy, which shields undocumented immigrants from federal immigration enforcement.
During a press conference in Springfield, Noem criticized Pritzker, claiming he contributes to “violence and criminality against his citizens in this state.”
“People advocate for the sanctuary policy citing love and compassion. But where is the compassion for the family behind me?” Noem stated. She added, “For two years, JB Pritzker has been protecting individuals who have committed crimes. This makes me embarrassed by his actions.”
Also present was Brian McCann, whose brother, 66-year-old Denny McCann, was killed in a 2011 DUI incident. He pointed out that after his brother’s death, Cook County enacted the Sanctuary Act, which Pritzker later signed, making Illinois one of the most prominent sanctuary states.
Jim Walden expressed his sorrow, noting that he would never see his son Jimmy “grow, get married, and have children” because the undocumented individuals responsible for his death were shielded by sanctuary policies.
He revealed that the person accused of killing his son had multiple past offenses, including convictions for domestic violence, and had been incarcerated several times prior to the incident.
Walden reflected on what could have been, emphasizing his son’s birthday, and lamented the ongoing issues related to illegal re-entries.
“If the governor did his job and deported these criminals, those tragedies could have been avoided,” he remarked, expressing his desire for a future he will never witness.
Kathy Xander, whose son John died from fentanyl poisoning, and Nancy Pretania, whose son Nick also suffered the same fate, supported Noem at the press conference.
