Context:

Congresswoman Mary Miller from Illinois is urging state sheriffs to defy Governor J.B. Pritzker's sanctuary policies and comply with federal immigration laws, citing an increase in crime and drugs as a result of these policies. The TRUST Act, passed by Illinois' Democratic-majority legislature in 2017, restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE, which Miller argues endangers communities. Governor Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, is a vocal opponent of Trump's immigration policies, drawing criticism from the Trump administration for obstructing ICE operations. The Department of Justice has filed legal charges against Pritzker and other officials for non-compliance with ICE detainers, claiming it jeopardizes public safety. In response, Miller is calling for immediate action from law enforcement to prevent further harm to citizens, insisting that Pritzker's leadership has failed to protect innocent lives from crime linked to illegal immigration.

Dive Deeper:

• Mary Miller, a Republican congresswoman from Illinois, has called on state sheriffs to defy the sanctuary laws upheld by Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, urging them to enforce federal immigration law directly with ICE instead.

• The TRUST Act, enacted by the Illinois legislature in 2017, limits the ability of local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE, effectively preventing them from enforcing federal immigration laws, which Miller claims has led to increased crime.

• Governor Pritzker has been a staunch opponent of the Trump administration's immigration policies, labeling the former president as an 'authoritarian' and organizing protests against his agenda, which has intensified political tensions in Illinois.

• The Trump administration's Department of Justice has accused Pritzker and other state officials of obstructing ICE operations by not honoring detainers, which they argue undermines efforts to safely apprehend and deport illegal aliens posing public safety risks.

• Miller's statements highlight a significant divide between state and federal approaches to immigration enforcement, with sheriffs caught between following state laws and federal mandates, leading to a potential legal and political showdown in Illinois.

• The congresswoman argues that Pritzker’s sanctuary policies have turned Illinois into a 'cesspool of crime and drugs,' blaming these policies for severe community safety issues, including violent crimes against citizens.

• Miller emphasizes the urgency of her call to action, stressing the need for local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE to protect communities and prevent further loss of innocent lives, attributing these dangers to failed political leadership.