Secretary Noem and Angel Families Demand End to Illinois Sanctuary Policies

In a recent press conference held in Springfield, Illinois, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stood alongside grieving families to challenge Governor JB Pritzker’s sanctuary policies, which protect illegal aliens from federal law enforcement. Noem criticized these policies for fostering a dangerous environment in Illinois.

“People who support sanctuary policies talk about love and compassion. Well, where is the compassion for families that stand behind me?” Noem questioned, pointing to the families of victims killed by illegal aliens. She accused Governor Pritzker of prioritizing political statements over the safety of his citizens by maintaining Illinois as a sanctuary state.

Tragic Stories Highlight the Human Cost

During the event, Noem was joined by individuals who shared heart-wrenching stories of loss directly linked to illegal aliens who benefited from sanctuary policies. Among them was Brian McCann, whose brother Denny McCann was tragically killed by Saul Chavez, an illegal alien felon. Chavez, in a drunken state, struck Denny and dragged him nearly 300 feet, leading to his death in 2011.

“Two months after my brother was killed, Cook County encoded the law, passed the sanctuary law … and about 7 or 8 years later, Pritzker signed the sanctuary law,” Brian McCann stated, emphasizing the long-term establishment of these policies in Illinois.

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Also present was Jim Walden, father of Marine Lance Corporal James Ray Walden III, who died in a crash caused by an illegal alien in 2017. Walden expressed his perpetual grief, noting that his son would have turned 30 just a day before the press conference. He highlighted the repeated failures to deport the criminal responsible, despite multiple arrests and convictions, including for domestic violence.

“No Angel Family’s death can be considered an accident because if the governor had done his job and deported these criminals, they wouldn’t have been able to kill our families,” Walden lamented.

Broader Impact of Sanctuary Policies

The press conference also addressed the broader implications of sanctuary policies on drug-related deaths. Kathy Zander and Nancy Pletania, whose sons died from fentanyl poisoning, stood with Noem to underscore how these policies contribute to the opioid crisis by allowing drug traffickers to operate with greater impunity.

The collective voices at the conference called for immediate action to repeal sanctuary laws in Illinois, arguing that such policies not only obstruct justice but also endanger the lives of innocent citizens by harboring criminals.