The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today issued a scathing statement refuting a series of claims made by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker regarding Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement surge in Chicago.
The DHS accused the Governor of repeatedly spreading “shameful and disgusting lies” and “hateful rhetoric” that it claims has contributed to a more than 1000% increase in assaults against federal law enforcement officers.
The statement, released after Pritzker’s appearance on CNN and a subsequent Monday press conference, aimed to “set the record straight” and defend the personnel of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from what the agency called “smears and slander.”
READ: $10,000 Bounty On Border Chief: DHS Nabs Latin Kings Suspect In Illinois Murder-For-Hire Plot
“Our message to JB Pritzker: Get out of your mansion and see Chicago,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “If J.B. Pritzker actually walked the streets of his own city, he would see domestic terrorists and violent rioters attacking police officers and the scourge of violent crime as a direct result of his own policies.”
DHS Challenges Pritzker’s Claims
The DHS directly addressed several specific allegations made by Governor Pritzker, providing counter-arguments to each:
Claim of “Unconstitutional Invasion”: Pritzker’s assertion that the deployment of federal agents was an “unconstitutional invasion” was dismissed by DHS as “categorically FALSE.” The agency maintains that the President has the authority to deploy troops to defend federal facilities from attacks, citing the ICE facility in Broadview as an example.
Targeting Minorities: The Governor’s claim that agents are “just picking up people who are brown and black” was strongly denied. DHS stated that since the operation began, ICE and CBP have arrested more than 1,000 illegal aliens—including individuals with convictions for violent crimes like “pedophiles, child abusers, kidnappers, gang members, and armed robbers.” DHS insisted that their enforcement is based on unlawful presence and “reasonable suspicion” as determined by the Fourth Amendment, not race or ethnicity.
READ: Chicago Mayor Johnson’s ‘ICE-Free Zones’ Draw Fire, Critics Say Policy Shields Violent Criminals
South Shore Raid: Pritzker criticized the nighttime raid on a South Shore apartment building, claiming federal agents broke doors, ransacked the place, and detained 130 people, including U.S. citizens. DHS confirmed the operation, but stated it was a targeted action resulting in the arrest of 37 illegal aliens, including members of the gang Tren de Aragua and other violent criminals. The agency reiterated that it does not target U.S. citizens for arrest or deportation.
Children Zip-Tied Hoax: The Governor’s claim that “children zip-tied” during operations was labeled a “shameful and disgusting lie.” DHS exposed the source of the claim as a parody video on TikTok, where the officer photographed with a zip-tied toddler was the child’s father.
Fatal Franklin Park Shooting: DHS provided a detailed account of the shooting of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, stating the individual was an illegal alien who drove his car at officers when ordered to stop, hitting and dragging one agent. The officer was forced to fire his weapon “fearing for his own life and broader public safety.”
“Warzone” Protests: The DHS countered the description of protests in Broadview as “peaceful,” stating that Border Patrol officers were “ambushed by domestic terrorists” who rammed federal agents with vehicles. One driver, identified as Marimar Martinez, was armed with a semi-automatic weapon and was taken into FBI custody after receiving defensive fire.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin warned that Governor Pritzker’s rhetoric actively endangers law enforcement, who continue to arrest dangerous criminals despite facing increased assaults.
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