Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blasted Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for his state’s “dangerous sanctuary policies.”
Noem is currently pushing for the extradition of a Mexican national accused of brutally killing a young woman inside her Springfield, Illinois apartment.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Gabriel P. Calixto, was taken into custody by Mexican authorities last week.
He faces charges of first-degree murder and domestic battery in connection with the stabbing death of 24-year-old Emma Schafer in July 2023.
At the time of the killing, prosecutors say Calixto was living in the United States illegally.
Noem announced the arrest by applauding law enforcement while taking aim at Illinois leaders.
“The vicious illegal alien murderer who has been evading justice for two years after stabbing 24-year-old Emma Schafer has been ARRESTED,” she declared.
“We will continue to work with federal authorities to coordinate extradition proceedings.”
She then added thanks to law enforcement, saying, “THANK YOU to our law enforcement partners for bringing this perpetrator to justice.”
The announcement came as the Trump administration weighed a sweeping anti-crime initiative targeting Chicago, which could involve sending additional ICE agents and even deploying National Guard units.
Noem argued that local Democratic leadership is standing in the way of public safety.
“I am calling upon Governor Pritzker, and other leaders in the state of Illinois, to abandon these dangerous sanctuary policies,” she stated.
“We need to return to law and order and put the safety of Americans first.”
Pritzker has rejected the Trump administration’s plans, insisting that crime in Chicago does not warrant federal intervention.
Last week, he told reporters that Trump is “attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.”
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“The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders,” he continued.
“We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois.”
The governor has escalated his rhetoric in recent days, calling the potential deployment of troops “unconstitutional” and “un-American.”
On Monday, he accused the president of seeking to “use the military to occupy a U.S. city, punish its dissidents and score political points.”
According to Pritzker, such a move amounts to a “dangerous power grab.”
The governor even issued a pointed warning aimed at troops who might be deployed by the federal government, vowing that any service members who harmed Illinois residents would “face justice under our constitutional rule of law.”
Pritzker warned, “You can delay justice for a time, but history shows you cannot prevent it from finding you eventually.”
On Wednesday, Naval Station Great Lakes confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security had approached it regarding possible support for ICE operations.
Later that day, Pritzker declared on social media that Illinois would resist any attempts by Trump to send troops into Chicago.
“Unlike Donald Trump, we keep our promises. We will not stand idly by if he decides to send the National Guard to intimidate Chicagoans,” he wrote. “Action will be met with a response.”
In an interview with CBS News, Pritzker described the idea of troops in Chicago as an “invasion.”
He argued that the Trump administration had not communicated directly with Illinois officials about the plan and suggested the president had motives beyond fighting crime.
“It’s clear that, in secret, they’re planning this — well, it’s an invasion with U.S. troops, if they, in fact, do that,” Pritzker said.
He also claimed that Trump’s actions may be part of a scheme to interfere with future elections.
The Illinois Democrat warned that the plan could be designed to “stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections.”
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson fired back, blasting Pritzker’s leadership.
“It’s amazing the lengths this slob will go to in order to deflect from the terrible crime crisis that has been plaguing Chicago for years,” she said in a statement.
“Chicago’s residents would be much safer if Pritzker actually did his job and addressed his crime problem instead of trying to be a Resistance Lib hero.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has also weighed in, saying the administration has not informed him of any concrete plans for the deployment.
While he cited statistics showing a significant drop in homicides, robberies, and shootings over the past year, Johnson acknowledged that crime rates remain higher than they were in 2021.
Despite the stats, he argued that bringing in the National Guard would backfire.
“The problem with the President’s approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound,” Johnson said.
“Unlawfully deploying the National Guard to Chicago has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement when we know that trust between police and residents is foundational to building safer communities.”
He added a defiant note on Friday, saying, “When we fight back against tyranny, the people united will always prevail.”
President Trump himself commented on Truth Social, blasting both Pritzker and Johnson while pointing to a deadly weekend in the city.
“A really DEADLY weekend in Chicago,” the president wrote. “6 DEAD, 27 HURT IN CRIME SPREES ALLOVER THE CITY. Panic stricken Governor Pritzker says that crime is under control, when in fact it is just the opposite.”
“He is an incompetent Governor who should call me for HELP,” Trump jabbed. “Mayor Johnson is no better. Make Chicago Great Again!”
