Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) is under fire after an illegal alien killed a Republican county board member and his wife in a car crash. The tragedy has intensified backlash against Pritzker’s sanctuary state policies, which critics say have repeatedly endangered law-abiding citizens.
On October 24, 34-year-old Edwin Pacheco-Meza, an illegal alien from Honduras, drove across the center line and struck Michael Clayton, 71, and Gail Clayton, 66, killing both instantly. Clayton served on the Coles County Board and was known for his dedication to local government.
Authorities revealed that Pacheco-Meza had entered the country illegally and was traveling with 18-year-old Juan Morales-Martinez, an illegal alien from Guatemala released into the U.S. interior under the Biden administration. The crash occurred in eastern Illinois, a region already reeling from multiple DUI-related deaths linked to illegal aliens.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R) slammed Pritzker, saying, “This hits home. Two upstanding, honest citizens are dead because our insane governor continues to put illegal aliens above law-abiding citizens.” Niemerg directly blamed the state’s sanctuary policies and the SAFE-T Act for creating a legal environment where non-citizens are protected while dangerous offenders remain free.
Morales-Martinez, who was released after the crash, was only taken into custody after federal immigration authorities intervened—highlighting what critics say is a breakdown in state and federal cooperation due to Illinois’s sanctuary stance.
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R) added, “The Claytons are at least the 5th and 6th DUI-related death in east central Illinois by an illegal in as many years.” Rose accused Pritzker of prioritizing political ambitions over public safety.
Pritzker recently floated the idea of prosecuting ICE and DHS agents under a future Democrat administration, doubling down on his anti-enforcement stance. His comments have drawn sharp criticism from conservatives, who say the governor is enabling chaos by shielding illegal aliens from accountability.
