Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has launched a blistering attack against South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem following what he describes as a "dangerous political stunt" involving migrant transports to Chicago on Halloween night.
The controversy erupted when Noem's administration arranged for approximately 60 migrants to be bussed from Texas to Chicago, arriving on October 31st—a move Pritzker called "unbelievably inappropriate" given the safety concerns surrounding the holiday.
A Halloween Night Arrival Sparks Outrage
"To drop off families and little kids in a strange place on Halloween night, when we know that there are safety concerns for children on that night, is just unbelievably inappropriate," Pritzker stated during a press conference. The Democratic governor emphasized that while Chicago welcomes migrants, the timing and manner of this particular transport endangered vulnerable families.
The transport originated from Texas, funded by South Dakota taxpayers as part of Noem's ongoing effort to draw attention to border security issues. This marks another chapter in the growing trend of Republican-led states transporting migrants to Democratic strongholds.
Political Theater or Policy Statement?
Noem's office defended the move, stating that the transport was necessary to highlight what they call the "failed border policies" of the Biden administration. However, Pritzker countered that using human beings as political pawns crosses ethical boundaries.
"This isn't about policy differences—it's about basic human decency," Pritzker asserted. "These are human beings, not props for political theater."
Chicago's Ongoing Migrant Challenge
The Halloween arrival adds strain to Chicago's already stretched resources. The city has welcomed approximately 19,000 migrants since August 2022, primarily from southern border states. City officials have scrambled to provide shelter, food, and services amid budget constraints and logistical challenges.
Pritzker acknowledged the strain but maintained that Chicago and Illinois would continue to fulfill their humanitarian obligations—unlike, he suggested, governors who "ship people around like cargo."
A Growing National Pattern
This incident represents the latest escalation in migrant transport tactics that began with Texas Governor Greg Abbott's program of bussing migrants to northern cities. Several Republican governors have since adopted similar strategies, though the Halloween timing appears to be a new development in this political battle.
The confrontation between Pritzker and Noem highlights the deepening political divisions over immigration policy and the very human costs of these political maneuvers.
