Noem rejects Illinois Gov. Pritzker’s request to pause immigration enforcement during Halloween

Noem made the comments amid a firestorm of controversy in the Chicago area, as immigration enforcement operations have devolved into chaotic confrontations with residents and activists.

CHICAGO — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday flatly rejected a request by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to suspend immigration enforcements in the Chicago area until after Halloween.

Pritzker cited children’s safety and an incident from Saturday in which Customs and Border Protection agents deployed tear gas in a neighborhood where kids were preparing for a Halloween parade.

In turning down the request, Noem also cited children’s safety.

“We’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe,” Noem said at a news conference in Gary, Indiana, on Thursday. “The fact that Gov. Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and, I think, unfortunate that he doesn’t recognize how important the work is that we do to make sure we’re bringing criminals to justice and getting them off our streets, especially when we’re going to send all of our kiddos out on the streets and going to events and enjoying the holiday season.”

Noem made the comments amid a firestorm of controversy in the Chicago area, as a spasm of immigration enforcement operations devolved into chaotic confrontations with residents and activists in which immigration officers deployed chemical agents. In a widely reported event over the weekend, they used tear gas in the Old Irving Park neighborhood, just as kids and families were gathering for a Halloween parade.