Illinois Democrats keep fighting ICE in wake of Minneapolis shooting
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A memorial set up by community members following a fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Photo: Jaida Grey Eagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Illinois Democrats are galvanized with their peers across the country to stand against the Department of Homeland Security's immigration tactics in the wake of an ICE officer fatally shooting a woman in Minneapolis this week.
Why it matters: In the 2024 elections, Democrats felt like they got beaten badly on the immigration issue. But less than two years later, the polling has shifted, with a majority of Americans saying last year that President Trump is doing "too much" on deportations, according to Pew.
The big picture: U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-2nd) plans to file articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem by Friday — a move other Illinois Democrats are supporting.
- Meanwhile, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced this week the creation of the ICE Accountability Project, which aims to collect and document alleged criminal and abusive conduct by federal immigration agents.
- And state Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), who is running for the 9th congressional district, plans to file legislation barring anyone hired by ICE under President Trump from obtaining employment in state or local law enforcement positions in Illinois.
What they're saying: "I've had enough. She has turned ICE into a rogue force, violating the Constitution, tearing families apart, and leaving death in her wake," Kelly, who is running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, said on X about Noem.
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is also running to replace Durbin, says he will support Kelly's measure against Noem on the House floor.
- DHS did not respond to Axios' request for comment on the impeachment calls, but Noem has defended the shooting as self-defense.
Zoom in: Gov. JB Pritzker, who is running for re-election while weighing a presidential run, seconded Kelly's call for Noem's impeachment.
- He posted, "For months, Trump's DHS has wreaked lawless havoc in our neighborhoods. Tear gassing infants, families, and police. Firing their weapons at peaceful citizens. Killing innocent people. It's brutal, unconstitutional, and out of control. It must stop. Kristi Noem must go. Now."
Zoom out: In Illinois' 9th District, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and activist Kat Abughazaleh (one of six people who were indicted for interfering with law enforcement during protests) have highlighted their clashes with ICE officers in their campaigns.
- Biss produced a montage of his confrontations with Border Patrol's Gregory Bovino, accompanied by Taylor Swift's "Actually Romantic."
- Abughazaleh's first commercial shows officers throwing her to the ground during a protest at Broadview.
The other side: U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) told WMBD in Peoria that the Minneapolis shooting was a tragedy and called for a thorough investigation.
- His colleague U.S. Rep. Mary Miller asked Trump to arrest Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after Walz said he's prepared to deploy the state's National Guard if necessary to maintain peace.
Between the lines: Noem and DHS have clashed with Illinois Democrats since the Trump administration took over a year ago. Noem's impromptu press conference in Springfield last spring rankled Democrats, while she's also made appearances alongside ICE raids and at a processing center in Broadview.
- "Gov. Pritzker in Illinois is putting his people in danger every day by going against us and not working with us to make sure that we're detaining individuals who have criminal charges against them or have been convicted and then rereleasing them out on the streets," Noem said in October.
What we're watching: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) will propose sweeping reforms to DHS and is talking to lawmakers in Illinois to help build support for the measure.