Noem slams Illinois Gov. Pritzker's immigration policies during Chicago visit

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday of obstructing federal immigration agents from getting dangerous illegal migrants off the streets. Illinois’ leaders are ignoring the law and working to protect criminals, Noem said while speaking in a Chicago suburb. Noem highlighted several of the worst criminals arrested by ICE while operating out of Chicago, including a convicted child sex predator and a man convicted of attempted murder. If Pritzker had his way, these people would still be on the streets, Noem said. The secretary’s comments demonstrated the administration’s ongoing conflict with state and local leaders who favor so-called sanctuary policies.

What other history does the Trump administration have with Pritzker? Trump and the Democratic governor have continued to exchange barbs for some time, most recently over the Texas redistricting issue. Pritzker alleged that the administration is cheating with its initiative to redistrict Texas in a way that yields more GOP congressional seats. Pritzker welcomed over a dozen Democratic Texas representatives to Chicago after they fled the state in an attempt to prevent a legislative vote on the redistricting plan.

Pritzker also earned the administration’s ire with his refusal to cooperate with the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, a $1 billion effort to stop an invasive species of fish from migrating north toward the Great Lakes, according to a report by Axios. Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been one of the biggest supporters of Trump’s initiative to stop invasive Asian carp from endangering native fish populations.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s June report on Pritzker testifying before Congress about his state’s sanctuary policies.