Gov. JB Pritzker Penalizes Citizen for Doing His Job

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

Illinois has been known as a “sanctuary state” since August of 2017 when Governor Pritzker signed the TRUST Act (SB 31) into law.

This legislation restricts both local and state law enforcement from cooperating in any way with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

As we have seen in recent months, the reality of Illinois being a “sanctuary state” for illegal immigrants has continued to build to a boiling point.

If you thought the TRUST Act was radical legislation, this past week revealed the dangerous reality for citizens living in a “sanctuary state” with a governor who has little concern for his constituents – those he is obligated to protect.

Governor Pritzker has defined any type of cooperation with ICE as “discrimination” against illegal immigrants

In fact, law-abiding citizens are now being punished for their cooperation with federal agents.

Just this past October, the FBI assisted the U.S. Border Patrol in carrying out a raid in Chicago to arrest and deport members of the Venezuelan crime syndicate, Tren de Aragua, “a terrorist cartel that exploits our borders to bring murder, drugs, and chaos into American communities,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The FBI and U.S. Border Patrol were successful because of brave landlords tipping off federal agents that Venezuelan immigrants were living in their buildings.

When thirty-seven people were taken into custody, what should have been cause for Gov. Pritzker’s celebration was actually the cause of his ire.

In a statement, Governor Pritzker commented that the allegations of landlords aiding federal law enforcement:

“raise serious concerns for people struggling to maintain housing — and the communities that have been profiled and relentlessly targeted by the federal government during its violent immigration enforcement operations.

State law prohibits discrimination, and that includes aiding or abetting conduct intended to interfere with housing and civil rights. Illinois will not tolerate conduct that puts anyone in Illinois at risk of discrimination or harm.”

Fast forward to January 2026. The landlords, who tipped off ICE about illegal immigrant gang members living in his apartment building, are now being investigated for violating the TRUST Act.

It should be noted that two of the members who were arrested that night were members of a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security noted that the operation that took place was in “full compliance of the law.”

It is clear the dangerous progression that this investigation is taking.

If precedent is set that landlords can be penalized for cooperating with federal law enforcement officers who are simply doing their job of arresting criminals who are here illegally and still committing crimes on U.S. soil, what’s next?

Why are criminal illegals being protected instead of law-abiding citizens? Where’s the logic?

Cooperation with law enforcement is not only right, it is biblical.

God has given government the authority to execute justice against wrong-doers (Romans 13).

When Paul wrote in Romans 13 that we are to be “subject to governing authorities,” Rome was under the rule of one of the most wicked Emperors in history– Nero.

The only exception given to being allowed to disobey God-instituted governing authorities (including someone like Nero) is when they command a breaking of God’s law (Acts 5:29).

Got Questions summarizes,

“There is nothing in Scripture that contradicts the idea of a sovereign nation having immigration laws. Therefore, it is rebellion against God to unlawfully enter another country. Illegal immigration is a sin.”

Obeying the laws of the land is biblical.

Reporting and tipping off immigration and federal agents to the presence of illegal activity is biblical.

These landlords should be praised for their patriotic behavior as good citizens of Chicago, Illinois, and America.

We must pray that these landlords and owners who have come under investigation are protected from any prosecution.

And we must pray for the ICE agents and their families from the very real dangers they face.