US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has refused to halt the government's aggressive immigration crackdown in Illinois despite a plea from Governor JB Pritzker to allow children to enjoy Halloween without fear.
In a letter to Noem earlier this week, Pritzker expressed outrage over reports that border patrol agents had used teargas during a Halloween parade in Chicago last Saturday, leaving many in the community shaken. However, when pressed on the issue at a press conference, Noem insisted that she would not suspend the crackdown, citing concerns for public safety.
"This is shameful and unfortunate," Noem said, suggesting that Pritzker was more concerned with protecting children's rights than national security. "We're absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe."
Noem also sidestepped addressing the recent border patrol raid in Chicago, where agents were spotted deploying teargas and tackling people outside homes decorated for Halloween. Instead, she focused on the perceived threats faced by ICE officers, saying "what we've seen in attacks on ICE officers is unacceptable."
In response to Noem's comments, Pritzker fired back on social media, accusing her of hypocrisy for dressing up in law enforcement costumes during press events while refusing to acknowledge the harm caused by the immigration crackdown. The governor also highlighted Noem's past criticism of animal welfare, suggesting that she was out of touch with the values of ordinary Americans.
The controversy highlights the deepening divide between Republican lawmakers and Democratic governors on issues related to immigration policy. As the US government continues to grapple with the complexities of border control and national security, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact future policy debates.
In a letter to Noem earlier this week, Pritzker expressed outrage over reports that border patrol agents had used teargas during a Halloween parade in Chicago last Saturday, leaving many in the community shaken. However, when pressed on the issue at a press conference, Noem insisted that she would not suspend the crackdown, citing concerns for public safety.
"This is shameful and unfortunate," Noem said, suggesting that Pritzker was more concerned with protecting children's rights than national security. "We're absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe."
Noem also sidestepped addressing the recent border patrol raid in Chicago, where agents were spotted deploying teargas and tackling people outside homes decorated for Halloween. Instead, she focused on the perceived threats faced by ICE officers, saying "what we've seen in attacks on ICE officers is unacceptable."
In response to Noem's comments, Pritzker fired back on social media, accusing her of hypocrisy for dressing up in law enforcement costumes during press events while refusing to acknowledge the harm caused by the immigration crackdown. The governor also highlighted Noem's past criticism of animal welfare, suggesting that she was out of touch with the values of ordinary Americans.
The controversy highlights the deepening divide between Republican lawmakers and Democratic governors on issues related to immigration policy. As the US government continues to grapple with the complexities of border control and national security, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact future policy debates.
? The sec of homeland security is literally saying she'd rather keep her finger on the immigration trigger than listen to a governor who just wants kids to feel safe on Halloween 
. And then she had the nerve to call him out for being more concerned about kids' rights than national security... like, what's wrong with wanting to protect children from harm? 
I'm so tired of politicians playing games with people's lives and using scare tactics to get re-elected 
. Can't we just have a serious conversation about how to fix our immigration system without resorting to this kind of divisive rhetoric? 
Can't they just get along? 
I mean, Governor Pritzker is literally asking them to stop scaring kids on Halloween and Kristi Noem is all like "nope, national security comes first". 
It's just so... unsavory. 
those ICE officers must be really scared 
but what's up with all these raids? 
️ like governor Pritzker said, doesn't Noem's law enforcement costumes thing kinda prove she's not as tough on everyone as she says? 
what is wrong w these ppl? like noem is literally making a scene over her own ppl being violent towards kids at a halloween party?! 
and then she has the nerve to call pritzker out for caring about the rights of his constituents?! 
i mean noem is worried about the safety of her agents but whats about the safety of the ppl they're hurting?! 