WATCH: IL legislator blames Pritzker, Johnson rhetoric for ‘bounties’ on ICE

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Federal law enforcement agents in Chicago conducting immigration enforcement are the targets of bounties from Mexican cartels, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

DHS reported its intelligence shows cartels are working with groups like Antifa with bounties up to $50,000 for the assassination of high-ranking federal officials.

“These criminal networks are not just resisting the rule of law, they are waging an organized campaign of terror against the brave men and women who protect our borders and communities,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Illinois state Rep. Patrick Sheehan, R-Homer Glen, who is also a police officer, said it doesn’t help that Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls ICE the “gestapo” and “jack-booted thugs,” and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson calls law enforcement a “sickness.”

“And I really just urge Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson to apologize for their comments and stand behind the women, men and women of law enforcement,” Sheehan told The Center Square.

State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, said it was the federal agents bringing “chaotic activity.” He urged everyone to work together.

“Somebody has got to be the bigger person, whether it’s the president, the governor or the mayor, to say that we all should want the same thing and it is to protect the people in Illinois and Chicago,” Ford told The Center Square. “And so someone should make the call.”

DHS said the agency will not be deterred by threats and called on sanctuary state and local leaders to cease policies that embolden criminals.

Wednesday morning, Pritzker said there needs to be more civilian law enforcement help from the federal government, not immigration enforcement.

“And all I can say is that we’ve got to bring an end to this. The federal government and Donald Trump need to recognize that this is not the way that you do immigration enforcement,” Pritzker said after an unrelated news conference.

During a news conference Wednesday afternoon with results of Operation Summer Heat to address violent crime, President Donald Trump said they’re just getting started in places like Chicago.

“But that really was just preparatory work for what we’re going to do with the surge,” Trump said. “We’re going to have a surge of strong good people, patriots, and they’re going to go in, they straighten it all out.”

The separate Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago is focused on immigration enforcement and is ongoing.