Kristi Noem Insists ICE Will Be Out in ‘Full Force’ on Halloween in Chicago Despite Governor’s Request to Pause Arrests

With Halloween weekend approaching, some residents of U.S. cities where President Donald Trump has mobilized federal troops are concerned about their children trick-or-treating amid masked and armed ICE officers.

During an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Oct. 30, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was asked about the letter that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker wrote her this week “respectfully requesting” that DHS suspend immigration enforcement operations for the upcoming weekend “in and around homes, schools, hospitals, parks, houses of worship, and other community gatherings where Halloween celebrations are taking place.”

“Illinois families deserve to spend Halloween weekend without fear. No child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood,” the governor wrote.

When asked if she was considering altering DHS activity in Chicago for the Halloween holiday, Noem replied simply, “No.”

In fact, she continued, “We’re gonna be out on the streets in full force and increase our activities to make sure kids are safe.”

“Every day in Chicago, we’re arresting murderers, child pedophiles, those who have perpetuated assault and pornography on children,” Noem claimed.

“We’re gonna be out there to make sure that they can be safe, enjoy the holiday, spend some time with their families and their neighbors and their communities, and they don’t have to be the victim of a crime because of these illegal aliens that are in our country victimizing them,” she continued.

Her update comes just days after a 76-year-old U.S. citizen was pinned to the road by Border Patrol agents during a children’s Halloween parade in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood last weekend.

The man’s running club, DWRunning Club, shared their account of what allegedly happened during the violent arrest on Saturday, Oct. 25.

“One of our athletes was on his way home from a team long run yesterday and as he turned onto his block, found that Border Control had the road blocked,” DWRunning Club alleged on an Instagram Story. “The agents threatened to break his window if he didn’t move his car. Before he could act, they pulled him out of his car, knelt on his back, and subdued him, though he never resisted. They broke six of his ribs and caused internal bleeding.”

In a video of the incident shared by the club, onlookers could be heard asking officers to ease up on the man.

“You’re f—ing suffocating him!” one said, as another told them, “He’s 76 years old. Be easy on him.”

After the incident, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin shared a statement with PEOPLE, writing, “On October 25, 2025, Border Patrol conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who has previously been arrested for assault.”

“During the operations, Border Patrol agents were surrounded and boxed in by a group of agitators. Federal law enforcement issued multiple lawful commands and verbal warnings, all of which were ignored,” she continued, adding that two U.S. citizens were ultimately arrested for allegedly “assaulting and impeding a federal officer.”

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“To safely clear the area after multiple warnings and the crowd continuing to advance on them, Border Patrol had to deploy crowd control measures,” she wrote, justifying the actions by claiming that federal agents are “facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them.”

“Secretary Noem’s message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down,” McLaughlin continued. “ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”