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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is coming to Springfield on Wednesday.
While in the city, she will criticize the state’s sanctuary policy for immigrants. In a press release for the visit, Noem’s office said she “will highlight how sanctuary policies in Illinois have unleashed violence on American citizens — including rape, sexual assault, murder, shoplifting, and more — while shielding illegal aliens responsible from facing consequence.”
In a continuation of their mass deportation platform, the Trump Administration has taken aim at states with protections for noncitizens. In 2017, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed the TRUST Act, which forbids local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration officials on cases in which they do not have a criminal warrant issued by a judge.
Protests are expected during Noem’s visit, and lawmakers at the Capitol are expected to speak out against her rhetoric. Noem’s visit coincides with Latino Unity Day at the Illinois State Capitol.
While Noem is coming to Illinois to attack the policy, Governor Pritzker’s office confirmed that he will be going to D.C. next month to defend the state’s protections for noncitizens. He will be “voluntarily” attending a hearing with House Oversight Committee.
“The Illinois Trust Act – which was bipartisan and signed into law by a Republican – is fully compliant with federal law. Despite the rhetoric of Republicans in Congress, this public safety law ensures law enforcement can focus on doing their jobs well while empowering all members of the public, regardless of immigration status, to feel comfortable calling police officers and emergency services if they are in need of help,” Alex Gough, spokesperson for Governor Pritzker said in a statement. “Governor Pritzker will voluntarily appear before Congress on June 12 to discuss his track record on public safety and the implementation of bipartisan state laws.”
This story will be updated.