Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) floated the possibility that Democrats may seek criminal charges against federal immigration officials for enforcing U.S. immigration laws within his state. In a television interview this week, Pritzker claimed that, although prosecutions may not happen immediately, they could be pursued after the Trump administration—while the statute of limitations still allows.
Pritzker stated he is actively consulting with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and local state’s attorneys about launching criminal investigations into DHS and ICE personnel operating in Illinois, a declared sanctuary state. “These people should recognize … maybe they’re not going to get prosecuted today … they may get prosecuted after the Trump administration,” Pritzker said.
He also accused President Trump of escalating tensions by deploying ICE agents to act inside Illinois. “The President … is causing mayhem … He is going after his political opponents,” Pritzker declared, warning that the administration’s tactics suggested a drift toward authoritarianism.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, criticized Pritzker’s stance in a recent Breitbart interview. Addressing Pritzker and other sanctuary-state leaders, Homan said they should be “ashamed” for obstructing law enforcement actions, arguing that ICE has contributed to public safety in those jurisdictions.
So far, ICE agents have carried out more than 800 arrests of undocumented individuals across Illinois in 2025. The governor’s comments bring new attention to clashes between federal enforcement powers and states asserting sanctuary policies.
