Noem Refuses to Halt Enforcement for Halloween After Tear Gas Incident Near Children: 'Not Willing to Put Work on Pause'

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rejected a request from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to suspend immigration enforcement in the Chicago area during the Halloween weekend. The stance comes despite federal agents deploying tear gas near children preparing for a neighborhood parade.

Speaking at a news conference in Gary, Indiana, Noem said she would not pause immigration operations:

"We're absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe. The fact that Gov. Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and, I think, unfortunate that he doesn't recognize how important the work is that we do to make sure we're bringing criminals to justice and getting them off our streets, especially when we're going to send all of our kiddos out on the streets and going to events and enjoying the holiday season"

The exchange followed a chaotic weekend incident in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood, where residents said masked agents used chemical agents during an arrest shortly before a Halloween parade. In a letter to Noem, Pritzker said families "deserve to spend Halloween weekend without fear," writing that "no child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick or treating in their own neighborhood."

A federal judge referenced the episode earlier this week when reminding Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino that agents are under court order not to deploy chemical weapons without warning unless facing an imminent threat, as NBC News points out. "I do not want to get violation reports... that show that agents are out and about on Halloween where kids are present and tear gas is being deployed," U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis told Bovino. "I expect everybody to act reasonably."

Affidavits submitted in federal court described residents being caught off guard by the weekend operation. One resident, attorney Brian Kolp, told NBC News that he ran outside "in pajama pants" as agents arrested a worker on his lawn. He said an officer held "some sort of munition," and that chemical agents were later deployed without warning. "There was nothing to justify any of their use of force," he said.

Pritzker has accused federal authorities of escalating raids under "Operation Midway Blitz," which has resulted in more than 1,500 arrests since early September. While DHS says it is focused on "the worst of the worst," Pritzker said residents and workers with no criminal record have been swept up. He also endorsed a state bill that would allow residents to sue immigration agents who violate constitutional protections.