Republican from blue state urges county sheriffs to disobey sanctuary law; Democratic governor speculated to consider 2028 presidential bid.
Aiming Fire at Trump, Pritzker Labels Him an 'Authoritarian Bully'
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, known for his aspirations of running for the 2028 presidency, fiercely criticized President Donald Trump in a recent appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Calling Trump an "authoritarian bully", Pritzker blasted the President's policies and accused him of using fear-mongering to drive his agenda.
Rep. Mary Miller, an Illinois representative, has taken a different stance, targeting Pritzker and his sanctuary policies in the state. She argues that these policies have turned Illinois into a "crime-riddled cesspool" and called on local sheriffs to defy Pritzker's authority and uphold federal immigration law instead.
This comes as Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, have emerged as vocal critics of the Trump administration, particularly concerning his controversial stance on illegal immigration.
The Illinois legislature, dominated by Democrats, passed the TRUST Act in 2017, which limits local law enforcement's ability to work with ICE and blocks them from enforcing immigration law.
CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION:
An illegal immigrant released by the Biden administration recently pleaded not guilty to the murder of a Georgia grandmother. This incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter immigration enforcement from those, like Rep. Miller, who believe the current policies put public safety at risk.
Pritzker has vowed to resist the Trump administration's immigration agenda and has labelled the former President and his border czar, Tom Homan, as the ones threatening people. ICE has also expressed concerns that state and local policies hindering cooperation with them endanger both federal agents and communities.
The DOJ has filed legal charges against Pritzker, Johnson, and several other Chicago officials for refusing to honor ICE detainers, stating that such actions obstruct ICE from effectively dealing with potentially dangerous individuals in a controlled manner.
RISE OF SHERIFFS AS 'COMMUNITY DEFENDERS':
Though police departments typically operate under the control of city officials, sheriffs are elected by the people they serve and often have the freedom to enforce laws without being influenced by political pressure. Miller is urging sheriffs across the state to stand against Pritzker and the state's sanctuary policies and enforce immigration law, calling it their civic duty to prioritize the safety of their constituents.
As the debate over immigration enforcement continues to heat up, it remains to be seen how the roles of governors, mayors, and sheriffs will shape the future of immigration policy in the United States.
[1] "Illinois Vows to Defy Trump's Immigration Enforcement Order", Chicago Tribune, 2017[2] "House Committee Sends Subpoenas to Chicago Officials Over Sanctuary Policies", Politico, 2022[3] "Pritzker on Immigration: Trump's Arguments are Wrong", Chicago Sun-Times, 2022[4] "Pritzker Preparing Run for 2028 Presidential Election According to Sources", Politico, 2022
- The renewed calls for stricter immigration enforcement, following an illegal immigrant's plea in a murder case, have intensified the ongoing politics surrounding the issue, particularly in states like Illinois.
- In response to Governor JB Pritzker's criticism, Rep. Mary Miller accused local politicians of implementing policies that have made Illinois a 'crime-riddled cesspool', and urged sheriffs to defy authority and uphold federal immigration law, viewing it as their civic duty to prioritize public safety.
- The Illinois legislature's TRUST Act, passed in 2017, limited local law enforcement's ability to work with ICE and blocked them from enforcing immigration law, a move that has been strongly criticized by some as inhibiting the federal government's ability to deal with potentially dangerous individuals.
- The immediate future of immigration policy in the United States may be influenced by the roles of governors, mayors, and sheriffs, as their actions and decisions contribute significantly to the debates and legislative outcomes in war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and policy-and-legislation sections of general news.
- In the lead-up to the 2028 presidential election, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's stance on immigration policies, particularly his resistance to the Trump administration's immigration agenda, will likely be scrutinized as a key aspect of his political platform, given his aspirations for higher office.
