East Central Reporter

An ICE agent has criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, claiming their policies are making immigration enforcement more dangerous for federal agents and the public.

The agent stated that local officials' refusal to cooperate with ICE complicates arrests. The agent said that encouraging residents to record immigration operations sometimes leads to interference, which increases risks during enforcement.

“Unfortunately, it makes our job even harder,” the ICE agent stated. “The safety level [is] higher, elevated, with the threats we’re dealing with in the community, because everybody thinks they can help stop enforcement, trying to hinder our arrests. It’s not stopping—it’s just another element where we have to fight the community as well.”

According to the agent, these local policies expose law enforcement officers to additional dangers while allowing individuals with criminal records to remain undetected in communities.

“Not only [are] our lives at risk, but it’s putting the general public at risk as well,” the agent said. “Since the mayor doesn’t want to cooperate with ICE, he’s hiding the people who have criminal records. With his actions, it’s helping them hide in the community, so therefore it makes our job even harder.”

The agent also noted concerns about how close citizens get when recording operations: “It’s fine to record, but when you come at arm’s length, that makes us a little bit in danger, because now we don’t know if you’ve got a weapon, we don’t know your motive.”

Critics of sanctuary city policies argue these measures allow undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds to avoid detection and increase hostility toward law enforcement during operations.

The ICE agent concluded by saying elected officials are placing illegal immigrants’ interests above those of federal agents and communities.

Miller was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois's 101st House District in 2023, succeeding Reggie Phillips.