Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday criticized Illinois leaders and other “sanctuary” jurisdictions, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement and protecting dangerous criminals.
Speaking at DHS offices in suburban Chicago, Noem said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is focused on arresting “the worst of the worst,” citing hundreds of thousands of arrests since President Donald Trump took office. She claimed sanctuary policies make ICE’s job harder, pointing to Chicago’s record of honoring just 8% of 1,664 detainer requests in the past seven months.
“They’re choosing murderers, rapists, and child traffickers over the safety of families here,” Noem said.
Noem also said assaults on ICE officers have risen 1,000% since 2024, blaming “vilification” from local leaders.
Political Pushback
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office called Noem’s visit “an attempt to stoke fear and division,” saying the city arrests criminals but won’t aid “militarized mass deportations.” Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton accused Noem of wasting taxpayer money on political theater.
Protest Outside
Dozens of protesters rallied across the street, chanting “ICE go home” and accusing Noem of targeting women and children. Some criticized ICE officers for making arrests without warrants, a claim Noem rejected, saying agents always wear identifiers and sometimes masks for safety.
Enforcement Plans
Noem denied claims that ICE detains large numbers of migrants without criminal records, insisting many have pending charges or final removal orders. She said 80,000 people have applied for 10,000 new ICE jobs.
“Nobody’s getting swept up,” she said. “It’s about getting dangerous people off the street.”
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