SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton spent Monday serving others in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but the state's top Democrats also addressed President Donald Trump's inauguration. Pritzker plans to do everything in his power to protect immigrant families from mass deportations.
The Trump administration has frequently called Chicago "ground zero" for mass deportations, with potential enforcement taking place during Trump's first days in office. Pritzker said there should be no doubt that Illinois will stand up for all children and families.
"We need to protect the people of Illinois from the onslaught that we can expect, some of which was articulated by Trump as a candidate," Pritzker said. "We are doing the best that we can to try to predict the things that might happen, especially the things that would have the biggest negative impact on the people of the state of Illinois."
Still, the Democrat said everyone should agree that undocumented violent criminals should be deported.
"It's hard enough to tolerate somebody who is a US citizen who commits a violent crime, but we do of course, and we put them in prison and we try to rehabilitate them," Pritzker said. "Someone who is not a US citizen and entered this country without any documentation or permission, people who commit violent crimes who are in that category shouldn't be here."
Pritzker said he is willing to meet with President Trump if he gets the invitation. The governor stressed he has no problem having conversations with the Republican if they are productive.
"That's my job, to protect the people who live in our state, all of the residents of our state, no matter the party they belong to," Pritzker said.
Meanwhile, Illinois House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) said Trump and the newly empowered GOP House and Senate can deliver relief to families, bring peace to divided communities, and restore economic success. McCombie said she looks forward to working with the Trump administration to make Illinois and the nation stronger, more prosperous and more united.
Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) celebrated Monday's inauguration and congratulated the Trump team for highlighting the core principles of American democracy.
"I am encouraged by his message of unity and refocusing our government to better support everyday Americans who are struggling with high inflation and feeling less safe in their communities," Curran said. "The Senate Republicans will continue to focus our efforts on bringing more prosperity, security and opportunity to all Illinoisans in the year ahead."
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