East Central Reporter

Mary Miller, the representative for Illinois District 15, said Illinois sheriffs should defy Governor J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary state policies, support ICE, and enforce President Trump's deportation efforts, blaming the state's policies for rising crime and violence. She made the statement in a press release.

"Governor JB Pritzker's sanctuary state policies have transformed Illinois into a cesspool of crime and drugs brought by the illegals he is actively resettling," said Mary E. Miller, U.S. Representative from Illinois. "Our communities are being overwhelmed, innocent girls are being raped, and Americans are being ruthlessly murdered. These are the tragic consequences of his failed leadership. I call on every local sheriff in Illinois to defy these dangerous directives, cooperate with ICE, and support President Trump's deportation efforts. We must act now before one more innocent American life is lost or harmed."

According to Fox News, Miller is calling on Illinois sheriffs to disregard the state's sanctuary policies and instead cooperate with ICE to enforce federal immigration law. The Illinois TRUST Act, enacted by the Democratic-majority state legislature in 2017, limits local law enforcement from collaborating with ICE and prohibits them from enforcing federal immigration law. Miller criticized these policies and what she described as "failed leadership."

Governor J.B. Pritzker has publicly opposed the Trump administration’s immigration policies. According to Fox News, he described former President Trump as an "authoritarian" during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, stating that Republicans "cannot know a moment of peace." He said that Trump and former ICE director Tom Homan are "the ones who are threatening people."

Fox News reports that ICE has said that state and local policies limiting cooperation with the agency "endanger federal agents and communities." The Department of Justice has filed legal actions against Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and other officials, arguing that failure to honor ICE detainers hinders federal efforts to take custody of individuals safely.

Mary E. Miller has represented Illinois’s 15th Congressional District since 2021. She resides on a family farm near Oakland with her husband, State Representative Chris Miller. According to her website, she has a background in education and farming and holds a business degree from Eastern Illinois University. Miller chairs the Congressional Family Caucus and serves on several House Committees including Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, and House Administration. She is also affiliated with the House Freedom Caucus and the Republican Study Committee.