Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says Governor JB Pritzker not being willing to enforce existing law and policies regarding illegal immigration has gotten people killed.

Noem — speaking Wednesday several houses away from where Emma Shafer, 24, was killed in 2023 allegedly by her suspected illegal immigrant boyfriend — says Shafer didn’t have to die, and state law is making it impossible to find her killer.

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

Noem says Pritzker and Democrats support continued violent crimes like murders and drug overdoses by allowing for “sanctuary city” policies.  She claims more than $1 billion has been spent to allow for “aliens,” as Noem put it, to have health care.  They’ve also been afforded, according to Noem, housing and other things through policies she described as “dangerous.”

“[Pritzker] largely excused all of this crime under the guise of running a sanctuary state,” said Noem, “and supported policies that prevent local law enforcement officers to work [sic] with our ICE officers to get families justice.

In a social media post, Pritzker called Noem’s visit a “publicity stunt.”

“Illinois doesn’t need to abuse power or ignore the Constitution to keep our people safe,” said Pritzker.  “Like the millions of asking for sensible, humane immigration reform, I encourage the Secretary to spend less time performing for Fox News and more time protecting the Homeland.”

Noem also visited an unmarked Homeland Security facility locally, where at least two immigrants were being processed before being sent to other detention facilities.  Reporters allowed in to that visit say Noem asked the two if they spoke English, and if they knew that they were in the process of being deported.  Some local reporters covering Noem’s visit were part of a motorcade to both the visit and the speech.

During the speech, Noem was flanked by some state Republican lawmakers, and what are being called “angel families” — families of people whose loved ones died at the hands of violent crimes or from fentanyl overdoses, allegedly caused by illegal immigrants.

Gabriel Calixto remains wanted for Shafer’s death, and Noem claims he may still be in Illinois.

Noem says she wants to talk to Shafer’s family.

“We have been reaching out to them, and weren’t able to get a response yet,” Noem told reporters.

Shafer’s family was not far away at the protest to Noem’s visit, staged near the Governor’s Mansion.  Some of those protesters made it to the site just as Noem was wrapping up, and as reporters were whisked away in the motorcade.

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