Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced this week that his administration will investigate ways to punish El Salvador for cooperating with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement. The governor plans to examine Illinois pension fund investments, contracts with Salvadoran businesses, and trade relationships as part of what he calls a response to “violations of due process.”
Pritzker cited the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a noncitizen alleged to be a gang member, as the catalyst. Now detained in El Salvador, Abrego Garcia will not be returned to the United States, according to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Pritzker accused El Salvador of undermining U.S. court orders by aiding federal deportation efforts under President Donald Trump.
Critics quickly condemned the governor’s moves as political theater aimed at elevating his national profile. Cook County Republican Party chairman Aaron Del Mar said any economic retaliation would hurt everyday Salvadorans rather than government officials. “Any disinvestment or policy that affects their country will have a ripple effect, impacting each El Salvadoran,” Del Mar said.
Del Mar also accused Pritzker of ignoring pressing issues in Illinois while pursuing headlines. “He’s trying to play national politics and talk about Trump and El Salvador, which have nothing to do with Illinois,” he said, suggesting the governor is positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential run.
Pritzker has already faced backlash this year for comparing President Trump to Nazi leaders six times during his February state of the state address. That rhetoric continued as allies like Martin Danenberg, a former educator at the Salvadoran consulate in New York, likened Trump’s actions to those of Stalin and Hitler.
Illinois state Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, slammed Pritzker’s stance on social media, writing, “Wait… What!!! This is horrendous!” Her reaction reflects growing discontent among Illinois conservatives over the governor’s increasingly aggressive national posture.
As Pritzker continues to entangle Illinois in foreign and federal disputes, questions mount over whether these actions serve the interests of Illinois residents or his own political ambitions.
