WATCH: Pritzker wants immigration enforcement, just not Trump’s way

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he is not for open borders and wants immigration law enforced, just not how the Trump administration is doing it.

Monday at a stop in Florida, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the feds are working with local authorities in various states, but not in Illinois.

“Governor Pritzker in Illinois is putting his people in danger every day by going against us and not working with us to make sure that we’re detaining individuals who have criminal charges against them or have been convicted, and then rereleasing them out on the streets,” Noem said.

Illinois law prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting federal officials with immigration enforcement of civil detention orders.

Tuesday during a discussion with The Economic Club of Chicago, Pritzker said he doesn’t support open borders and wants immigration law enforced, but criticized the Trump administration

“My objection is not having an, an immigration enforcement mechanism. My objection is the way they’re doing it,” Pritzker said. “They are breaking all of the protocols and rules that normally apply to police in this country. And we’re just sitting back and allowing it to happen is not right.”

Pritzker pushed for immigration reform to allow those who are here illegally, but not breaking other laws, to remain.

Trump administration officials say they are enforcing immigration on the streets because of Illinois’ migrant sanctuary laws.

Illinois legislators could come back to Springfield next week and advance measures to enhance the state’s migrant sanctuary policies.

Last week, a Cook County judge ordered that Immigration and Customs Enforcement can’t conduct enforcement actions at the county courthouse. After that ruling, Pritzker praised the move, but said there are challenges to enhancing the state’s sanctuary policies.

“We may be able to make tweaks to the law to protect people better in the state,” Pritzker said Oct. 15. “Although, as you know, I think we’ve done a pretty good job of Trump proofing the state as best we could.”

State Rep. Patrick Sheehan, R-Homer Glen, who is also a law enforcement officer, said the state’s migrant sanctuary policies need to be repealed, not enhanced. He said it’s causing confusion among local police.

“We’ve seen the misdirection, the Chicago Police Department and local law enforcement, they’re not sure what to do,” he told The Center Square. “When you take away the instinct from a police officer, you’ve completely broken, how law enforcement operates.”

Legislators are expected to return for the final three days of session scheduled for the year beginning Tuesday.