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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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U.S. border czar Tom Homan has accused Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, of "scaring children" after the Democrat appeared to share misinformation about ICE targeting schools in Chicago.
"He's scaring the neighborhood, putting fear in the community," Homan said on Dr. Phil's Merit TV.
"We're doing the exact opposite, we're saving children," he added.
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Newsweek contacted the Pritzker's office via email on Monday for comment.
Why It Matters
The U.S. Secret Service reported that its agents visited a Chicago elementary school on Friday as part of an investigation into a threat. Earlier in the day, school officials had incorrectly stated that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been at the building.
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What To Know
On Friday, Pritzer shared a news article on X (formerly Twitter) about the apparent ICE raid in a school and said, "Targeting children and separating families is cruel."
Homan responded as he spoke with TV host Dr. Phil McGraw, who accompanied Homan, ICE agents and officers with the DEA as they conducted immigration enforcement raids in Chicago.
A spokesperson for ICE told Newsweek the agency has not carried out any immigration enforcement operations at "schools or bus stops."
The Department of Homeland Security released a memo that reversed the policy of prohibiting ICE agents from operating in or near schools, churches and other "sensitive locations."
A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that "criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest."
The ICE policy requiring agents to obtain prior approval before making arrests in sensitive locations was introduced in 2011 through a memo from then-Director John Morton.
This policy remained in effect throughout President Donald Trump's first administration and continued under former President Joe Biden's administration.
Under the policy, ICE agents were permitted to enter sensitive locations, such as schools, churches and hospitals only under specific circumstances.
These included addressing national security or terrorism threats, apprehending dangerous felons, preventing imminent risks of death or injury or safeguarding evidence in a criminal investigation from being destroyed.
Agents were required to secure approval from their superiors before carrying out arrests in these sensitive locations.
What People Are Saying
A spokesperson for ICE told Newsweek: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not conducted any operations at schools or bus stops. Our enforcement efforts remain focused on public safety threats and those who have a final order of removal."
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said in a post on X: "After a week of Republicans sowing fear and chaos, the first reports of raids in Chicago are at an elementary school. Targeting children and separating families is cruel and un-American."
What Happens Next
The incident has reignited debates over immigration enforcement policies, particularly the policy that reversed restrictions on ICE operations near sensitive locations like schools and churches.
Although ICE has said it has not sent agents to schools, it is possible agents could be sent under Trump's new policy.
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