Overview of What Resistance Means to Governor J. B. Pritzker
This New Yorker / WNYC Studios Radio Hour segment (interviewer Peter Slevin) features Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker describing and condemning recent actions by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in Chicago and suburbs. Pritzker frames the federal operations as an “invasion,” accuses agents of racial profiling, unlawful tactics (tear gas, rubber bullets, masked officers in unmarked vehicles), and creating chaos to justify military-style deployments in U.S. cities. He discusses legal battles, local responses (including video documentation and an accountability commission), crime trends in Illinois, and broader political stakes as he prepares for re-election and a potential national profile.
Key topics discussed
- Federal ICE/CBP sweeps in Chicago and the suburbs: tactics, scope, and alleged abuses
- Racial profiling, constitutional concerns, and claims of mistreatment of U.S. citizens
- Violence, crowd-control measures (tear gas, pepper pellets, rubber bullets), and specific incidents (neighborhood tear-gassing, a raid involving helicopters)
- Judicial response: court hearings (Judge Sarah Ellis, District Judge Robert Gettleman), orders (body cams, detention condition rulings)
- State actions: lawsuits (including restricting National Guard deployment), an accountability commission collecting video/testimony, and state police deployments
- Crime context and statistics: Pritzker’s claim of declining violent crime and homicide reductions; debate over what federal agents are actually doing to address violent crime
- Political framing: Pritzker’s criticism of President Trump’s motives and rhetoric; threats from Trump supporters suggesting governors could be jailed; Pritzker’s political ambitions and background
Main arguments and evidence presented
- Pritzker’s argument
- Federal agents are operating as a secret police: masked, unidentifiable, using militarized tactics in residential neighborhoods and suburbs.
- Actions include racial profiling, unlawful detentions (including of U.S. citizens), use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters and bystanders, and traumatizing children.
- The federal presence is intended to manufacture disorder to justify further militarized federal intervention (e.g., National Guard).
- Courts and documentation (video, testimony) are critical to hold federal actors accountable due to federal immunity.
- Evidence and examples cited
- Video footage of interactions and protests that contradict federal claims.
- A high-profile raid in a South Shore building: 130 people were detained/handcuffed though only four were alleged targets — and those four were allegedly misidentified.
- Reports of detainees in poor detention-center conditions (Judge Gettleman’s comments).
- Instances in which federal officials’ claims (e.g., being struck by projectiles) were called into question by judges.
Legal and political developments
- Courts
- Judge Sarah Ellis has expressed skepticism about federal use of force, ordered ICE/CBP to wear body cameras, and required regular reporting from Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino.
- District Judge Robert Gettleman criticized detention conditions and ordered improvements.
- Illinois sued to block National Guard deployments; that case reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
- State measures
- Illinois created an accountability commission (led by two former federal judges) to gather video and testimony.
- Pritzker is directing residents to document incidents and using state police to protect protesters in some locations (e.g., Broadview).
- Political responses
- The Trump administration portrays federal operations as targeting violent criminals and protecting agents, leading to a battle over narratives and misinformation.
- Threats and rhetoric from Trump allies (calls to jail governors) raised by Pritzker as evidence of political escalation.
Local responses and community action
- Citizens encouraged to record interactions with federal agents to deter abuses and preserve evidence.
- Community tactics include public whistle-blowing (literal whistles) to alert neighbors of ICE/CBP presence and mobilize protective attention.
- Local protests, legal challenges, and media documentation are being used to build accountability cases.
Statistics and context noted in the interview
- Pritzker’s claims:
- Violent crime in Chicago has declined in recent years; he states violent crime is at a low not seen since 1965 and says homicides have been cut in half over his term.
- He reports 345 killings in Chicago “this year” (as cited in the conversation).
- Caveat: these figures were presented by Pritzker in the interview as part of his argument; listeners should consult official crime statistics for up-to-date confirmation and context.
Notable quotes
- “They are abusing people on the ground here. They’re overstepping the boundaries of what civilian law enforcement are supposed to be doing.” — Pritzker on ICE/CBP.
- “If people were throwing tear gas at innocent bystanders in neighborhoods that [the president] might live in, he would also be upset.” — Pritzker on how the president might react.
- “We’ve seen CBP and ICE agents dropping tear gas in communities where people are just standing on the sidewalk holding signs.” — Pritzker.
- On strategy: “If ICE knows that they’re being filmed, they might not perpetrate the kinds of activities that they are now.”
Takeaways and implications
- The segment frames the conflict as both a legal battle and a narrative war: courts and on-the-ground documentation will shape accountability and public perception.
- Pritzker positions state-level resistance as constrained legally but morally necessary; he is using litigation, public persuasion, and evidence-gathering to push back.
- There is a real risk of dangerous confrontations between federal agents and local or state law enforcement if tensions escalate.
- The issue intersects criminal-justice policy (how to reduce violent crime) and civil-rights concerns (racial profiling and constitutional protections).
Practical recommendations reported in the piece
- For residents in affected areas: record interactions with federal agents (video) to create deterrence and evidence.
- Support or follow the accountability commission gathering footage and testimony.
- Follow local court rulings and public reports to track changes in federal tactics and legal constraints.
Who’s at the center
- J.B. Pritzker — Governor of Illinois, critic of the Trump administration’s ICE/CBP operations.
- ICE and CBP — federal agencies conducting sweeps in Chicago and suburbs; led locally in coverage by Gregory Bovino (Border Patrol leader).
- Federal judiciary — Judge Sarah Ellis and Judge Robert Gettleman have played notable roles in oversight.
- Peter Slevin — New Yorker reporter conducting the interview.
- Donald Trump administration — driver of the federal actions and the political/operational decisions criticized by Pritzker.
This summary captures the interview’s central claims, legal context, and practical implications for residents and policymakers interested in the intersection of immigration enforcement, public safety, and civil liberties in Chicago.