Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported an incident on Friday where she and her team were denied entry to a municipal building in Illinois for a restroom stop.
The situation unfolded at the Village of Broadview Municipal Building, prompting Noem to express her frustration on social media. "My team and I were just blocked from accessing the Village of Broadview Municipal Building in Illinois. We were stopping for a quick bathroom break. This is a public building. The Village of Broadview receives at least $1 million in federal funding every year," she stated.
According to the Daily Caller, Noem labeled the incident as "absolutely shameful," attributing the blame to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and his associates for their treatment of law enforcement. Conservative commentator Benny Johnson, who witnessed the event, captured footage of a man barring the door while exclaiming, "No, you cannot," as Noem's group approached.
In the video, Noem remarked, "All were doing is getting criminals and terrorists and cartels and gang members off the streets."
However, Broadview officials contested Noem's version of events. Village spokesperson David Ormsby informed CNN that Noem's visit was unannounced, and she sought a meeting with Mayor Katrina Thompson, who was not present at the time. "The mayor returned her visit," Ormsby explained, noting that Thompson, accompanied by the police chief, went to the ICE center but was informed that the secretary was unavailable.
The backdrop to this incident is Noem's visit to the Broadview ICE facility, which has been the site of ongoing anti-ICE protests. Governor Pritzker criticized Noem's presence in Illinois, asserting that she "should no longer be able to step foot inside the State of Illinois without any form of public accountability."
This episode highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and Democratic-led states and cities.
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