* Background is here if you need it. Fox 32…
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the “border czar” has issued a pointed response to Gov. JB Pritzker’s recent pledge to keep Illinois a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, suggesting the state’s policies will not deter ICE enforcement.
In an interview on conservative Charlie Kirk’s podcast, Tom Homan responded to Pritzker’s statement, in which the governor declared, “If you come for my people, you come through me.”
Homan replied, saying in part:
“Game on. We’ve got no problem going through him. I’ve got 20,000 men and women in ICE who are going to do their job with no apology,” Homan said. “And if any governor wants to stand in the way, go ahead and do it. We’ll see what happens. We’re not gonna be intimidated.”
Click here for the relevant portion of the interview.
- Old IL Dude - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 3:40 pm:
Just wondering if places like Hormel, Tyson, Smithfield and probably 95% of any Big Ag companies are going to like this enforcement. I am always tickled pink to hear Iowa GOPers complain about illegal immigration when a sizable amount of their state’s workforce, and ripple effects on local economies, depend on immigrants.
If ICE cracked down on these companies like MAGAts want, hoo boy, that would be fascinating to see…
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 3:41 pm:
I guess the Illinois election of a Governor doesn’t matter.
- Resist - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 3:43 pm:
20,000 men and women spread over how many states? That would be 400 per state. And protect the border? I don’t think so.
- P. - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 3:46 pm:
Of course this is going to be targeted and designed to maximize intimidation and fear but really brain worm thinking to try to remove a million people with hospitality, labor and ag jobs in Illinois and Wisconsin and expect hotels and restaurants and the entire construction industry - huge sectors of the economy - to function.
- Peleg Carr - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 3:51 pm:
Pritzker and the other blue state governors have 2 whole months to develop a cogent response. Honestly a super weak strategy for Homan to tell them this far in advance what he’s planning to do.
- Resist - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 3:51 pm:
Would love to know what the hotel and lodging associations think about cracking down on immigration? How will areas that rely on tourism feel when rooms won’t be cleaned?
- Jibba - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 3:54 pm:
Typical combative response from Trump officials, never tactful or diplomatic. Not the way to bring America together, unless they mean one side surrenders.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:01 pm:
How does Gov. Pritzker deal with the stress of having this guy, Charlie Kirk, and Matt Gaetz after him?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:04 pm:
== I’ve got 20,000 men and women in ICE==
I thought they weren’t going to operate like jackbooted thugs. At least that’s what the Republican sycophants on TV would have us believing right now. That it was all hyperbole when everyone was warned about how Trump would act.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:09 pm:
It’s sad the new border czar thinks this is a ‘game’.
- NotRich - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:17 pm:
Mine is bigger than yours fight brewing here
- Lizzie - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:23 pm:
Deporting a substantial number of the ag/meat-packing/dairy/ construction/ hospitality workforce would do serious harm to these industries.
But they may just decide to arrest and charge them, then, under the 13th Amendment, force them into labor.
The only workforce more exploitable than a disenfranchised one is an enslaved one.
- The Dude - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:26 pm:
I can’t see how this is good for Illinois workers.
JB is trying to have the Illinois citizen solve the countries problems.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:31 pm:
It’s going to take a lot more than JB and a few like minded Governors pushing back on this. Our country was built on the backs of immigrants and we owe much of our past, present, and future success to that. This might just end up being the reminder we need. We’ll see.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:32 pm:
The actions and impact will be intentionally brutal and uncaring. They can’t deport everyone they want to, but they can create such fear that millions will leave on their own. This is happening, it’s not just provocative talk, it’s a plan.
- Victor - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 4:59 pm:
Have these guys said how this is going to happen? The actual mechanics of it? If the people throw their papers away and just randomly claim some country they are from, how do they these geniuses make that country accept them?
- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 5:06 pm:
It will be a cabinet that goes down in history for sure.
- Two Left Feet - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 5:28 pm:
Pritzker went low with the “come through me” talk. Homan went lower. I’m disappointed in the bantering, so will need to set my expectations lower.
- A great idea - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 5:54 pm:
Good for Tom Homan. Only think is JB is literally big enough to stand in his way.
- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 6:03 pm:
You’re making size jokes when Trump is your guy?
- clec dcn - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 6:13 pm:
Pritzker cause his own problem by speaking out. It’s the play tough game. Poorly done too I might add.
- Ugh - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 6:41 pm:
“Have these guys said how this is going to happen? The actual mechanics of it? If the people throw their papers away and just randomly claim some country they are from, how do they these geniuses make that country accept them?” -Viktor
Will/can American private prisons take them? Hoping someone explains why they can’t.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 7:11 pm:
going to need more than popcorn for this show …
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 7:59 pm:
==Will/can American private prisons take them?==
They are itching to get involved and make some money on this
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 8:23 pm:
What is strange here is Homan could have said what that, or he could have said, “President Trump and I look forward to working with all 50 Governors to find ways of achieving our mutual goals of encouraging legal immigration but also protecting our borders and ensuring criminals are sent back.”
Gonna’ be another long 4 years of “owning the libs” while accomplishing nothing.
- Thomas Paine - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 9:19 pm:
=== Just wondering if places like Hormel, Tyson, Smithfield and probably 95% of any Big Ag companies are going to like this enforcement ===
Do you really think ICE is going to disrupt businesses that kiss Trump’s ring? Tyson is the largest employer in Arkansas, governed by Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Homan will not touch Tyson.
Homan will focus exclusively on raids in sanctuary states and sanctuary cities.
Abbott will go full commando on his own, probably. But not in work places. The idea is to terrorize latinos and put on a big show for their supporters. Terrorized immigrants are easier to exploit.
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Nov 13, 24 @ 9:33 pm:
It’s not wise to use the trash talk this early, gov. Love ya, but those folks live and breathe talking like it’s a tv wrestling match. Don’t play their game with the trash talk unless you already have an impenetrable set of laws and systems in place. Even then, this is the party that ignores guardrails and rules and norms. They are going to pretend they are warlords and with a captive Supreme Court backing them, many will suffer while the courts drag out a ruling after many appeals.
- ActBue4u - Thursday, Nov 14, 24 @ 6:36 am:
New Atty Gen Gaetz and the refreshed DOJ is going to end up indicting Pritzker et al in IL .. just wait and see
- Pundent - Thursday, Nov 14, 24 @ 7:03 am:
I think @ Thomas Paine is more or less correct. This is “we’ll build a wall and have Mexico pay for it” part II. There will be a lot of bluster, and maybe even a few photo ops, but that’s probably it. The intent, to the extent it’s real, will be done in by ineptness. The people being appointed here to lead the effort aren’t exactly geniuses. What will happen is greater division and hostility directed towards immigrants whether here legally or not. You may get rogue characters taking matters into their own hands and a certain number of immigrants may leave on their own. And those that do try to enter will likely find a very hostile reception. Lots of ugliness but little positive results. It’s really too bad as we could have had a bipartisan,albeit imperfect, solution.
- Mr Ed - Thursday, Nov 14, 24 @ 10:47 am:
Pritzker trying to play hardball is laughable. He is a trust fund baby and never was required to fight for anything. He’s been a decent Governor but shouldn’t try to be something he isn’t. Just sayin.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Nov 14, 24 @ 10:47 am:
Posturing is one thing by both sides. What can be a new development I guess are one or two neighbors pointing out potential arrestees to agents instead of looking the other way. Heroic postering may not be possible for either side here.
- walker - Thursday, Nov 14, 24 @ 12:30 pm:
Our lived experience with our Governor is that he doesn’t “posture” –he delivers. And he delivers because he is extremely intelligent at using the powers he does have.
A bully pulpit doesn’t require a bully standing behind it.
- Mister Ed - Thursday, Nov 14, 24 @ 1:31 pm:
These programs will have to increase their numbers. Interesting read. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/immigration/h2b
The Pew Research Organization also noted in 2022, over 30 million immigrants were in the US workforce, with an additional 8.3 million unauthorized. We need these people and there has to be a way to accommodate this workforce. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/27/key-findings-about-us-immigrants/ I hope the links are ok to post.
- chitruth - Thursday, Nov 14, 24 @ 3:27 pm:
The Governor’s tough guy posture isn’t credible, and the feds likely won’t be deterred. Gov is a nice guy with good motives, not macho.