(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Gov. JB Pritzker suggests President Donald Trump's threat of mass deportations is having a chilling effect among law-abiding citizens in local communities, even before they start.
“Go to Little Village, go to Pilsen. I was there yesterday. I was in businesses yesterday that were relatively empty because people are afraid to show up,” Pritzker said.
“Because even documented immigrants, even citizens who are from another country but now are citizens of the United States, have relatives who are undocumented, they're afraid. That is what this president is doing, and it's wrong.”
At an unrelated bill signing, the Governor said he will keep working to protect nonviolent, undocumented immigrants from being swept into the nets of ICE agents. Illinois remains a sanctuary state
Pritzker was asked at the bill signing what word he's gotten from the White House about possible mass deportations to be carried out in Chicago.
“None, and I think that's just more evidence of the chaos and confusion that they're trying to sow, and it's very disappointing. Yesterday, as you may have heard, there was an executive order issued that would suggest that President Trump is trying to get rid of birthright citizenship in this country.
“That's unconstitutional, what he issued the executive order. And we will not follow an unconstitutional executive order, and we will follow the law.”
Constitutional birthright citizenship means someone born in the U.S. is automatically a citizen even if their parents are not citizens.
The Illinois Republican Party is already responding, saying the governor himself has proposed unconstitutional things like the assault weapons ban and parts of the Safety Act.
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