Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is raising serious alarms about what’s happening in Chicago as federal forces, under President Trump’s direction, carry out aggressive and violent actions against residents. What started as a federal presence in the city has now escalated into something far more dangerous—something that resembles military occupation more than public safety.
According to Pritzker, heavily armed ICE agents and other federal officers have been launching extreme and forceful raids on apartment buildings throughout Chicago. These aren’t routine law enforcement actions. Families are being terrorized. Children are reportedly being dragged out of their homes and into the streets by agents in full tactical gear. People who have nothing to do with any threat are getting caught in the chaos. In one particularly horrifying case, a priest was hit in the head with a pepper ball—a clear sign that these agents are using force indiscriminately. Pritzker describes the situation as completely out of control.
He’s not just concerned about the physical danger, but also about what this all means for the future of the country. He believes what’s happening is part of a broader push toward authoritarianism a government that uses fear, violence, and lies to control people.
Pritzker warns that if Americans don’t pay attention and act now, this slide into authoritarianism could become permanent. He’s calling for everyone, especially elected Democrats, to speak out and do more than issue statements. He wants to see real leadership, real resistance, and real protection for the people who are being targeted.
Pritzker also made it clear that local law enforcement in Illinois is doing its best to protect residents from these federal crackdowns. In some cases, that means not cooperating with ICE raids, or stepping in to calm situations before they escalate further. But there’s only so much the state can do when federal agents are operating independently and aggressively in neighborhoods.
He took time to directly confront the lies being spread by Trump’s adviser, Stephen Miller, who has been trying to paint the situation in Chicago as chaotic and lawless in order to justify the federal occupation. Pritzker says that these claims are simply not true and that the chaos is being created by the very forces sent in under Trump’s orders.
Even more disturbing is the fact that Pritzker can’t get a hold of Trump’s officials. As governor of the state, he’s been trying to make contact to coordinate and get answers, but he’s being ignored. That kind of silence in a moment of crisis is deeply troubling. It suggests a deliberate choice by Trump’s team to shut out state leadership and act without oversight or accountability. It raises serious concerns about how decisions are being made and whether they’re driven by public safety or by politics and personal power.
Pritzker didn’t hold back in expressing concern over Trump’s mental state, either. He pointed out that the president’s behavior has been becoming more erratic and unstable. This, combined with the dangerous actions being taken on the ground, paints a deeply alarming picture of a leader who is using fear and force to hold on to control.
Shortly after this conversation took place, a judge issued a temporary order blocking National Guard deployments in Illinois. That move showed that the courts may be willing to step in and slow some of this down. But Pritzker made it clear: we can’t rely on the courts alone. This moment requires a full and immediate response from citizens, leaders, and anyone who cares about the survival of democracy.
His warning is stark but clear this is not normal. What’s happening is not just a political disagreement. It’s a crisis. And if Americans don’t rise up now to challenge this use of authoritarian power, we may find ourselves in a country that we no longer recognize.
