Illinois Latinos Throw a Wrench in Kristi Noem’s Propaganda
Every spring, hundreds of Latinx residents bus it to Springfield to advocate for their communities and to talk to their state representatives and senators on a variety of issues: immigration reform, public education, healthcare access, and more. Dozens of established non-profit organizations from Chicago take the lead, like the Latino Policy Forum and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), but groups from a variety of suburbs and towns are represented.
This year, on the fifteenth anniversary of Latino Unity Day, attendees got a chance to demonstrate their unity in numbers upon hearing that Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem was making a surprise visit to continue her crusade against immigrant families. She had summoned the media for a press conference in front of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s mansion and the word spread like fire.
You may have heard her multimillion-dollar ad campaign that goes: President Trump has a clear message—if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return. But if you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American Dream. If you are a criminal alien considering entering America illegally: Don’t even think about it…and so on.
Unbeknownst to her, there was a large Latinx presence in Springfield for the “Quinceañera” that week, and they quickly mobilized to rally on Pritzker’s sidewalk right before her arrival. The governor placed a “Due Process for All!” banner on his wrought iron fence and Secretary of State Alexis Giannolias took the podium that Noem was supposed to speak from. “So on a day when Kristi Noem should be doing her job and helping us with REAL ID, she’s traveling the country doing political stops, publicity events, a vanity tour,” he said to cheers and boos from the crowd.
Noem’s team had to pivot and relocate the press conference. Few news reports that day mentioned the protest, however, which was later followed by a solidarity march to the capitol where organizers spoke up and mariachi music contributed to an empowering atmosphere.
“Secretary Noem must have not realized she was visiting during Latino Unity Day,” Pritzker said in a statement that afternoon, “where we come together to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of our community. Today, Secretary Noem was met by a force stronger than her: the people of Illinois.”
Champaign-based State Representative Carol Ammons also stated, “Trump and his officials are shredding the Constitution, depriving human beings of their due process rights, tearing away parents from their children, and making our communities less safe. In Illinois we will not put people to war against each other. Working class people of all backgrounds are united. The Administration and their lackeys will not force our state to comply with their illegal and morally abhorrent actions.”
Last week, Noem had a hearing in D.C. with the Homeland Security Committee, where she was questioned about upholding the Constitution. “See, I find that laughable,” said Congresswoman Delia Ramírez from the Northwest Side. “You don’t behave like someone who takes that oath seriously. Let me tell you why…” and listed the ways Noem has disregarded the rule of law in the 100 days she’s been in office.
“I, again, to your face, demand your resignation and place that request on the record,” Ramírez said. After the hearing, she handed Noem the letter demanding that she resign.