(NewsNation) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker asked the Trump administration to pause all immigration operations over the Halloween weekend during a press conference this Thursday.
He also spoke directly to Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, requesting that if operations were to continue this weekend, federal officers would not disrupt children’s Halloween celebrations.
In response to a push by Pritzker for DHS to pause enforcement operations for Halloween, Noem said the agency would “absolutely not” pause and will continue to focus on keeping communities safe.
“The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for that is shameful,” Noem said. “I think it’s unfortunate he doesn’t recognize how important the work that we do is to make sure we’re bringing criminals to justice.”
Pritzker also highlighted the “worst of the worst” examples of the administration’s conduct in Illinois.
While the Trump administration has repeatedly said its immigration crackdown is targeting the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders, Pritzker said those targets have included families, burrito vendors, landscapers and people without a criminal record.
“We cannot let this become normalized,” Pritzker said.
The governor pointed to an incident in the Chicago neighborhood of Old Irving Park, where a Halloween parade was canceled after federal agents came in armed with tear gas and automatic weapons, and detained three people. Two of those arrested were U.S. citizens, Pritzker said.
“Armed, masked agents terrorizing people, especially children, is unsconsionable, ” Pritzker said. “Don’t believe it when they tell you they’re going after the ‘worst of the worst’ gangs. They’re terrorizing innocent neighborhoods and kids at Halloween parades.”
Pritzker highlighted an Illinois family whose parents are being held in detention, leaving two older children who are awaiting temporary status caring for the two younger children, who are U.S. citizens.
Pritzker has been at odds with President Donald Trump over federal immigration enforcement in the Chicago area.
The state and the Trump administration have been in court over the actions of federal officers, with a judge ruling agents must wear bodycams and ordering them not to deploy tear gas during trick-or-treating on Halloween.
Trump has also attempted to deploy the National Guard in Illinois, but that plan is currently held up in the courts.
NewsNation’s Jeff Arnold contributed to this story.