Pritzker Calls Out ICE’s Actions in Chicago
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed disbelief regarding statements made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday. He suggested that the agency might be acting unlawfully.
Kicking off a discussion on a podcast, Pritzker urged local prosecutors to look into ICE’s operations in Chicago, referencing a recent incident where an armed woman was shot dead by ICE agents during a protest. The woman, identified as Marimar Martinez, was accused of obstructing law enforcement and ramming a police vehicle, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. Pritzker insists that ICE treated her as if she were a criminal.
Pritzker highlighted new information from Martinez’s attorney indicating that body camera footage may show her being tackled by an ICE officer who allegedly verbally abused her before the shooting occurred. He claimed ICE’s narrative, which implied that it was the woman who posed a threat, was questionable.
“I certainly don’t trust anything that ICE says or does,” Pritzker remarked. He mentioned that if ICE agents violate any laws in Illinois, they should be held accountable.
In response to Pritzker’s comments, DHS described his claims as misleading, asserting that Martinez was involved in incidents prior to the protest. They noted that no serious injuries had occurred among law enforcement during the event.
Pritzker has been a vocal critic of President Trump’s decision to send federal agents to Chicago and has intensified his criticism recently, particularly in light of Trump’s plans to deploy National Guard troops to several states, including Illinois. He has even taken legal steps to challenge these troop deployments, regarding it as an attempt to intimidate political opponents.
On the podcast, Pritzker further argued that this “militarization” of cities could be seen as a tactic to influence the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, suggesting it was aimed at intimidating voters and tampering with ballots.
