ICE Director Condemns Governor’s Halloween Enforcement Request

By Newsmax Wires | Friday, 31 October 2025 08:09 PM EDT
Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, rejected Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s request to suspend federal immigration enforcement operations in the Chicago area over the Halloween weekend. Pritzker had asked that ICE and its partners halt enforcement actions for three days so children could “safely celebrate Halloween.”

Lyons called the governor’s appeal “pretty embarrassing” on “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” stating, “The children of Illinois don’t deserve to be raped by criminal illegal aliens. They don’t deserve to be trafficked in sex trafficking or forced labor. So, the governor needs to refocus his attention on what’s really happening in his state.”

Lyons supported Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who called Pritzker’s request “shameful,” and reiterated that ICE agents would maintain full operations to protect public safety. “Criminals don’t take off Halloween,” Lyons said. “We’re not out there zip-tying children or separating them, but it’s not going to stop our federal mission to arrest criminal aliens wreaking havoc in Chicago.”