Copyright Newsweek
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has reportedly requested that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and senior ICE officials suspend immigration enforcement operations in Chicago for Halloween. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via email outside office hours. Why It Matters Chicago has become a key battleground in the national debate over immigration enforcement as federal authorities continue “Operation Midway Blitz,” a broad initiative linked to mass deportations and stepped-up ICE raids across several neighborhoods. The heightened presence of immigration agents and reports of federal agents deploying tear gas have fueled fear among immigrant communities and sparked backlash from local officials, including Pritzker. What To Know In a letter obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, Pritzker referenced an incident earlier this week in which ICE agents deployed tear gas in the Old Irving Park neighborhood while families were attending a Halloween parade. The governor's request is from Friday through Sunday, in an effort to allow children to participate in Halloween activities safely, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. Pritzker said he is “respectfully requesting” a pause in enforcement operations in areas such as homes, schools, hospitals, parks, places of worship, and other community spaces where Halloween activities are planned. “Illinois families deserve to spend Halloween weekend without fear,” Pritzker wrote in the letter sent to the DHS on Wednesday, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. “No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood.” The letter was addressed to Secretary Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott, per The Chicago Sun-Times. Gregory Bovino's Check-ins Suspended Pritzker's request comes as 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday halted an order from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis that required senior U.S. Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino to participate in daily check-ins regarding an immigration enforcement operation in the Chicago area. The campaign has resulted in more than 1,800 arrests and prompted allegations of excessive force. The appellate court’s decision was issued roughly an hour before Bovino was scheduled to begin his first check-in, after the Trump administration sought emergency intervention from the court. The appeals court on Wednesday suspended only a portion of Judge Sara Ellis’s order, specifically the requirement that Bovino appear before her each day at 5:45 p.m. local time. Other provisions, including limits on the use of tear gas and a mandate that agents equipped with body cameras keep them activated, remain in place. Judge Ellis is overseeing a lawsuit brought by news organizations and protesters who allege that federal agents used excessive force during demonstrations opposing immigration enforcement actions. She said Tuesday that her order was intended to promote transparency and accountability as Operation Midway Blitz continues. Bovino, who oversees the operation, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis to appear in court following claims he deployed tear gas on demonstrators without justification. Ellis previously expressed concern over federal tactics in protests and issued a temporary restraining order on October 9, limiting the use of tear gas and other aggressive measures without warning. What People Are Saying “My request is based on a desire to protect communities throughout Chicago and also upon the long-standing guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding enforcement actions at sensitive locations, which was unfortunately rescinded under this administration,” Governor Pritzker wrote in a letter seen by The Chicago Sun-Times. “That guidance should be reinstated to help protect children and others from enforcement action while accessing basic needs like education and healthcare," he added. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement: “Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies protect criminal illegal alien rapists over American citizens." What Happens Next As of now, DHS and ICE have not publicly confirmed whether they will grant the requested temporary pause.
