Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Springfield, Illinois on Wednesday and slammed Democratic leaders in the state to protect Illinois’s asylum policy to protect undocumented immigrants.
Before she spoke, the office of Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois, said Neum's office does not communicate with themand no support or coordination of the implementation of immigration laws is required.
Norm stood before families who lost their loved ones, involving incidents of immigrants who lacked legal status.
Noem stands with a handful of Republican state lawmakers in Illinois, criticizing Pritzker, claiming that Illinois does not protect its citizens and demands that the state change.
"I call on Governor Pritzker and all other leaders in the state to abandon their dangerous asylum policy," she said. "I thank all the leaders of the state who agreed to agree. They have been fighting hard with this governor, and I am proud of them for the people they stand here with now and these angel families and say enough. We have to change like a state."
In response to Norm's visit, the governor criticized the Trump administration's immigration policy, saying some of their efforts to deport immigrants were unconstitutional.
"The Trump administration is violating the U.S. Constitution, denying due process for people and vanishing law-abiding neighbors - including children of U.S. citizens. However, they have not taken practical actions to promote public safety and expel violent criminals in clear and clear legal proceedings."
Pritzker's office has defended the state's shelter law, known as the Illinois Trust Act.
"The Illinois Trust Act – which was bipartisan and signed into law by a Republican – is fully compliant with federal law. Despite the rhetoric of Republicans in Congress, this public safety law ensures law enforcement can focus on doing their jobs well while empowering all members of the public, regardless of immigration status, to feel comfortable calling police officers and emergency services if they are in need of help," Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough said.
The Illinois Trust Act largely prohibits state, county and local law enforcement agencies from working with immigration and customs enforcement in the context of civil immigration enforcement activities, but not in cases involving criminal arrest warrants or other court orders.
If undocumented immigrants are not arrested, ICE officials may issue detention centers requiring police to hold them for 48 hours until the ICE agent can detain them in federal detention centers, but the Illinois Trust Act prohibits such cooperation unless the person faces a federal criminal arrest warrant.
Pritzker said in a statement that Norm's visit to promote stunts "will not make our communities safer or our immigration system smarter".
"Illinois does not need to abuse power or ignore the constitution to keep our people safe. Just as millions of Americans demand wise humanitarian immigration reform, I encourage the secretary to spend less time performing for Fox News and more time protecting his homeland," Pritzker said. "Secretary Noem must not realize that she visited her on a Latino unified day and is celebrating the vitality and diversity of the community. Today, Noem is met by a stronger force than her: the people of Illinois. The people of Illinois are sending a clear message to Trump's liars and we won't let you resist us."
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also did not waste time on Noem's defeat, saying she was traveling instead of working.
Giannoulias also accused her of weaponizing Wednesday's real ID deadline - Require people to have a high-level identity For Flight - Create Fear.
"The combination of cowardice, incompetence and cruelty is a very terrible combination. So, while I'm glad she's not here, we need to be a society, a country, as a democracy, monsters like Christy Neum, not care about the people."
He argued that the news about Noem surrounding the execution of a real ID card was that there was more panic for those who did not need it.
He reiterated that his office is working to ensure they can serve everyone seeking to get a real ID.