Rockford Sun

State Senator Dave Syverson has issued a statement following the visit of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Springfield, Illinois. The visit took place on May 7, 2025, and was focused on discussing the impact of sanctuary policies in Illinois.

Secretary Noem's visit aimed to highlight concerns that these policies have led to increased violence against American citizens, including crimes such as rape, sexual assault, murder, and shoplifting. According to Noem, these policies also protect illegal aliens from facing legal consequences for their actions.

Senator Syverson commented on the significance of Secretary Noem's visit: "A visit by the Homeland Security Secretary sends a pretty strong message to the Pritzker Administration. The federal government is shining a national light on what many Illinoisans already know," he stated.

Syverson criticized Governor JB Pritzker's sanctuary state policies as being "reckless" and "dangerous," claiming they put lives at risk. He further added that while Governor Pritzker has described Illinois as the "most welcoming state in the nation," there is little discussion about the financial cost to taxpayers or how many violent offenders evade justice due to these policies.