Governor Pritzker’s Sanctuary Policies Are Dangerous

Last week, in a devastating act of violence, a Loyola University student was tragically shot and killed by an illegal immigrant who had an outstanding arrest warrant. It is yet another deadly consequence of Governor Pritzker’s failed sanctuary and public safety policies.

While walking along the lakefront, this Loyola University student lost her life in another horrific example of policies that are making our communities less safe.

Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national who entered the country in 2023, was arrested that same year for shoplifting. He failed to appear in court on that charge, and an arrest warrant was issued.

This is just the latest example of how Governor Pritzker’s sanctuary policies and the SAFE-T Act are failing Illinois families. Just look at the record on making Illinois a safe haven for illegals:

• He signed the Illinois Way Forward Act, strengthening laws that prevent local and state police from coordinating with federal immigration enforcement, even as he publicly calls for coordination.
• He has spent roughly $2.5 billion on services for illegal immigrants, including free health care, rental assistance, and access to driver’s licenses.
• He signed sweeping legislation further shielding illegal immigrants from deportation by limiting civil immigration enforcement at courthouses, hospitals, day care centers, and university campuses.

This is not the first such incident, either:

• Katie Abraham, and her friend Chloe Polzin, were killed in January 2025 in Urbana when a drunk driver who was an undocumented immigrant struck their car.
• Baltazar Perez-Estrada was charged with first-degree murder after prosecutors said he stabbed Maricela Simon Franco, dozens of times, killing her in front of their children.
• Edwin Pacheco-Meza was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI after Illinois State Police said a crash killed an Illinois couple.
• ABC7 reported Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, described by DHS as living in the U.S. illegally, was charged with concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing justice after Megan Bos, 37, was found dead in a container on his property.

But instead of working with federal law enforcement to help keep our communities safe from violent illegal offenders, Governor Pritzker continues to attack the very agencies charged with enforcing the law:

• Governor Pritzker has encouraged protesters to be streetfighters and they have heeded his calls.
• When federal agents outside the Broadview detention center were attacked and fireworks were fired at them, the Governor dismissed the ongoing violence, saying, “Whatever lawlessness is occurring is not occurring by peaceful protesters.”
• But these so-called “peaceful protesters” continued to hurl rocks and attack police. Governor Pritzker has still refused to clearly condemn this dangerous behavior.
• The Governor has even gone as far as saying that he wants to prosecute federal law enforcement agents.
• He even went as far as to sign HB 1312 into law, which creates “ICE Free Zones” that prevent federal law enforcement from doing their jobs and enforcing the law.

As Governor Pritzker continues attacking federal law enforcement instead of protecting our neighborhoods, House Republicans are fighting back. Representative Patrick Sheehan has filed HR 428 to affirm support for federal law enforcement.

Illinois families deserve safety, accountability, and leadership that puts their communities first.