* Heckuva story by WCIA’s Cole Henke…

* Transcript…

Announcer: Kristi Noem came to Springfield today to attack Illinois immigration protections, and she used the death of Emma Shafer to help advance that political agenda without her family’s consent. Our capital bureau chief Cole Henke is live outside of the governor’s mansion in Springfield. And Cole, Noem didn’t just stop at mentioning her name.

Henke: That’s right. Instead of going to the Capitol to attack Illinois laws or even the governor’s mansion, which is right behind me here, she instead went to the house where Emma Shafer was killed on the other side of town. Her mother not only didn’t approve of her using her name, she actively protested outside of the governor’s mansion today against Noem’s trip. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was joined by several families who either lost loved ones in crimes involving non citizens or to drug overdoses, but the majority of remarks in Springfield were focused on the story of a person whose family was not there.

Noem: Just a couple of houses away from here, Emma Shafer was brutally stabbed and murdered by an illegal alien.

Henke: Emma Shafer was killed in her home two years ago, right behind where Nome spoke. Her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Calixto is accused of the crime. Her death rocked the capital city. She was a pillar of the activist community organizing for several major causes in town, including immigrant rights. Protesters say she would have been on the front lines opposing Noem’s rhetoric.

Nick Dodson, Emma Shafer’s friend: Would have been the loudest person there. She would have been a person that organized many different people of different backgrounds, ages, beliefs, to all come and support this [protest].

Henke: Not only did her family not give consent to Noem’s office to use their daughter’s story, her mother carried on Emma’s mission the best way she knew how. She joined protesters across town rebuking the rhetoric around immigration from Noem and the Trump administration. In a statement, her mother begged Noem to stop, saying quote, to see her used by Secretary Nome and others to advance a cruel and heartless political agenda is not just deeply painful to us, it is an insult to her memory. This was Noem’s response to my question, if she even tried to get the family’s consent.

Noem: We have been reaching out to them, and weren’t able to get a response to yet, but we have been reaching out to them.

Henke: Were you aware that Emma Shafer’s family is across town at the protest of your appearance?

Noem: No, I wasn’t aware of that. Is that her immediate family?

Reporters: Yes.

Noem: Thank you. [Turns to another reporter] Did you have a question?

Henke: Noem then went on to speculate about Shafer’s case.

Noem: She lost her life to an illegal alien that’s still out at large, um, poss… probably in this state. We can’t confirm that.

Henke: What I did confirm? Springfield Police said Wednesday they have no reason to believe Calixto is even in the country, let alone in Illinois. As for her other claims…

Noem: The local law enforcement and the state law enforcement are barred by state law, with the support of Governor Pritzker, from sharing any information with our ICE officers or HSI officers.

Henke: This is not true. The US Marshals have actively been involved with this case from the get go, and the Trust Act does not prevent local law enforcement from working with the feds on any case involving a criminal warrant. Joining Noem was the Illinois Senate Republican leadership team, including Minority Leader John Curran and Senator Steve McClure, who represents a large part of Sangamon County. Curran said he was not aware of the significance of the location for Noem’s news conference until afterward.

Curran: I would say, highlighting a victim of crime, a murder victim of crime whose life work was centered around the immigrant community, regardless of whether someone was here legally or illegally, was a decision that should not have been made.

Henke: Governor Pritzker issued a scathing statement about Noem’s trip to Springfield as well, saying, quote Trump/ Noem publicity stunts do not make our community safer or our immigration system smarter. Illinois does not need to abuse power or ignore the Constitution to keep our people safe. Like the millions of Americans asking for sensible, humane immigration reform, I encourage the Secretary to spend less time performing for Fox News and more time protecting the homeland.

Please pardon any transcription errors.

* More from Henke…

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem used Emma Shafer's memory and even her old home to attack protections for the immigrant community in Illinois.

This statement from Shafer's mother makes it clear. They never gave consent for this, and they want it to end. pic.twitter.com/9PI6oC3O5N

— Cole Henke (@cole_Henke) May 7, 2025

* Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus were also at the Noem event yesterday…

Today, all members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus were honored to stand with Secretary Noem at a press conference in Springfield highlighting Illinois’ dangerous defiance of federal immigration law.

The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are issuing the following statement:

“Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Democrats are hell bent on protecting and concealing criminal illegals and spending your tax dollars to take care of them. As Secretary Noem highlighted today, we are talking about criminal illegals who are committing violent acts in our communities and trafficking dangerous drugs into the hands of our youth.

The Freedom Caucus has been calling for an end to the Sanctuary State policies for years; and we are thankful to have President Trump’s support in this fight. President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to enforcing federal law, and where necessary, imposing federal sanctions against JB Pritzker and his state government for refusing to comply. It is time for the Democrats to make a choice; are they going to support our taxpayers and working families in Illinois, or are they going to support illegals? It is time for all Illinois government officials to put the interest of Illinois citizens first.”

The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of State Representatives Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), chairman; Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), vice-chairman; Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich); Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville); Jed Davis (R-Newark); David Friess (R-Red Bud) and State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport). The members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus are members of the Illinois General Assembly who are advocating for limited government, lower taxes and accountability, and integrity in government.

* Rep. Ann Williams asked those members why they were at the event during a floor speech today. Here’s an excerpt…

After she was killed, we did do a resolution to honor her, but her family specifically asked we not speak about it publicly. So of course, we agreed to. Their pain was immeasurable, obviously, and it still is.

Yet here we are, two years later, with the grief still raw, the pain still very real. And yesterday, Secretary Noem doubled down to exploit her memory to score cheap political points. And some of you joined her. If you haven’t already read Emma’s mother’s statement, I’m asking you to please do so. It’s extremely difficult to read. It’s painful, but it’s powerful. Can you imagine losing a child, a family member, a colleague in the way that Emma’s family and friends did, and then having the wound torn open in the way that it happened yesterday, especially when you knew it went against everything this young woman stood for and how she lived her far too short life? It’s hard to imagine. It’s cruel.

So why were you there? Where is the empathy? Where is the understanding? Did anyone hesitate yesterday? Was there even a moment where someone thought this might hurt people who have been through such an unthinkable experience and losing a child in such a hurtful and brutal way?

I’m not going to ask for an apology. The family already did that. They did that through their pain and through their grief on a day that must have been filled with anguish. Instead, I’m going to implore you to take a few minutes to look inward. Ask yourself, was it worth it, and is it worth it to cast aside your humanity, your empathy, to score political points, to treat human beings as political fodder, to ignore pain and anguish and gloat about political wins. That can’t feel good. I don’t know how that can feel good or right.

Not one Freedom Caucus member rose to defend their strong approval of yesterday’s events. And I’m told Reps. Chris Miller, Brad Halbrook and Jed Davis stayed seated the entire time Williams was speaking, while everyone else in the chamber stood.

Discuss.