Noem Rejects Illinois Governor’s Plea for ICE to Pause Operations During Halloween

The Homeland Security secretary said that ICE will be operating ‘in full force’ during the upcoming weekend.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on July 8, 2025. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rejected a request from the governor of Illinois to pause immigration enforcement operations during Halloween.

In a letter to Noem, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker requested a pause in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations around parks, places of worship, homes, schools, and other places.