Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem traveled to Springfield, Illinois, on Wednesday where she criticized the state’s Democratic leadership over their sanctuary policies that shield undocumented immigrants.
Prior to her speaking, the office of Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker stated
Noem’s office does not communicate with them
, and has not asked for support or coordination to enforce immigration laws.
Noem was facing families who had lost relatives following events connected to immigrants without proper legal standing.
Alongside a few Illinois Republican state legislators, Noem condemned Pritzker, asserting that Illinois fails to safeguard its residents and called for the state to make changes.
“I’m calling on Gov. Pritzker and all the other leaders of this state to abandon their dangerous sanctuary policies,” she said. “I’m thankful for all the state leaders that are standing behind me who agree as well. They have been fighting an uphill battle with this governor, and I’m proud of them that they’re standing here with us today and with these angel families, and saying enough is enough. We have to change as a state.”
Following Noem’s visit, the governor condemned the Trump administration’s immigration policies, stating that certain attempts to remove migrants were not in line with constitutional rights.
“The Trump Administration is violating the United States Constitution, denying people due process, and disappearing law-abiding neighbors – including children who are U.S. citizens. Yet, they are taking no real action to promote public safety and deport violent criminals within the clear and defined legal process,” Pritzker said in a statement.
Pritzker’s office has defended the state’s sanctuary law, known as the Illinois Trust Act.
“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,” Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough said.
The Illinois Trust Act primarily prevents state, county, and local law enforcement agencies from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement in matters related to civil immigration enforcement. However, this does not apply when dealing with a criminal warrant or another type of judicial directive.
In cases where an undocumented immigrant has been arrested, ICE officials might issue a detainer asking police to hold them for 48 hours until ICE agents can take them into federal custody, but the Illinois TRUST Act prohibits such cooperation, except in cases where the person faces a federal criminal arrest warrant.
In a statement, Pritzker called Noem’s visit a publicity stunt that does “not make our communities safer or our immigration system smarter.”
“Illinois doesn’t 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,” Pritzker said. “Secretary Noem must have not realized she was visiting during Latino Unity Day where we come together celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of our community. Today, Secretary Noem was met by a force stronger than her: the people of Illinois. Illinoisans are sending a clear message to Trump’s lackeys that we will not let you mess with us without a resistance.”
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also wasted no time hitting back against Noem, saying she’s traveling the country instead of doing her job.
Giannoulias also accused her of weaponizing Wednesday’s Real ID deadline — which
requires people to have advanced identification
in order to fly — to create fear.
“The combination of cowardice, incompetence, and cruelty is a very scary mix,” he said. “We need to step up as a society, as a country, as a democracy to monsters like Kristi Noem who don’t care about people.”
He argued Noem’s messaging around the enforcement of the Real ID was creating more panic for people who don’t need the identification.
Giannoulias reiterated that his office is working to make sure they can serve everyone seeking to get a Real ID.
Fact-checking Noem’s claims during her visit to Springfield
Part of the Real ID’s aim is to keep Americans safer and to make forgery of documents harder.
Noem came to Springfield to talk about the program and how she says Illinois is failing residents.
CBS News Chicago Political Reporter Chris Tye did a fact check on her comments to help clear the air and set records straight.
Noem spoke for approximately 20 minutes, covering various points—some accurate and others not so much.
She talked close to where Emma Shafer lived, the person who was killed in Springfield last year by stabbing.
Noem stated that this is the area where a young woman was tragically killed. She mentioned that just a few houses down, Emma Shafer was viciously attacked and murdered by an undocumented immigrant who had been released into the U.S. under the Biden administration.
The police believe that Shafer was murdered by her former boyfriend, Gabriel Calixto Pichardo, who was born in Mexico and brought to the United States at a young age by his mother. Although he received lawful DACA status subsequently, this protection lapsed since he became ineligible due to a felony charge.
As Noem addressed the crowd at the location where Shafer had been killed, she remained oblivious to the fact that Shaver’s relatives were protesting her arrival in Springfield, situated elsewhere in the city on that Wednesday.
“No, I had no knowledge of that,” Noem stated.
Other inquiries and subjects covered by Noem delved into the specific expenses associated with caring for undocumented immigrants in Illinois.
“In 2020, Governor Pritzker expanded access to taxpayer-funded free health care for illegal aliens. It has cost the citizens of Illinois $1.6 billion,” Noem said.
That’s true. In a February 2025 report, the Illinois Auditor General revealed a pair of state-funded health insurance programs for undocumented immigrants cost the state $1.6 billion, far more than estimated when the programs began.
Cost overruns were particularly high when it came to care for those ages 42 to 54, with costs running 286% higher than the governor forecasted.
Noem zeroed in on the governor in other ways, too.
“It is very clear that he is violating the Constitution of the United States, because it is a federal law that the federal government and the president set and enforce immigration policies,” she said.
How true is that? CBS News Chicago took the question to the former dean of Northwestern University’s law school.
“As you know this matter is in litigation, active litigation; which is to say the federal government has sued the state of Illinois,” Northwestern University School of Law professor Daniel Rodriguez said. “The courts will decide this issue.”
Pritzker repeatedly has said the state’s sanctuary law, the Illinois Trust Act, is fully compliant with federal law.
Noem also claimed the Trump administration has “given the American people the safest and most secure border in American history.”
She stated that we must intensify our efforts in eliminating dangerous criminals.
The statement largely holds water that the border has never been more secured than it is now.
In certain periods over the past few years, unlawful entries at the border surpassed 300,000, though this figure has dropped to around 8,000. However, the most significant decreases in unauthorized border crossings occurred towards the end of President Biden’s term.
