Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker sat down for an exclusive interview to lay out the “Illinois playbook” he says can facilitate other blue states push back against federal immigration enforcement, explain why he believes ICE under President Donald Trump has become a “secret police,” and discuss his long‑standing advocacy for a national wealth tax as well as the possibility of a 2028 presidential run.
The conversation, recorded earlier this month, covered everything from the legal tools Illinois has deployed against “Operation Midway Blitz” to the governor’s personal financial stake in a progressive tax system. Pritzker’s remarks come as the Illinois Accountability Commission – the independent body he created by executive order on Oct. 23, 2025 – releases its first findings on alleged ICE abuses in the Chicago region Illinois Accountability Commission.
Illinois’ ICE‑resistance playbook
Pritzker said the state’s strategy began with a simple public‑education campaign: “Produce sure people know what their rights are when ICE agents are banging on your door. Do you have to open the door? What can they do and what can’t they do?” He added that the next step is equally straightforward: “Pull out your iPhone or Android phone and video everything.”
According to the governor, community‑recorded video has already proved decisive in court. “That evidence came in handy when the ICE and CBP agents were taken to court here. And we won,” he said, referring to litigation overseen by the Illinois Accountability Commission, which is headed by former federal district judge Ruben Castillo (USA Today).
The playbook, as Pritzker outlined, includes three core actions:
- Distribute clear, state‑approved “Know Your Rights” guides to neighborhoods most likely to encounter ICE.
- Encourage real‑time documentation of any encounter, preserving video, audio, and timestamps.
- Channel that evidence to the Illinois Accountability Commission, which files lawsuits and reports findings to the public.
He emphasized that the commission’s purpose is not merely to catalog complaints but to create a “public record of the conduct of federal agents” and to recommend policies that prevent future harm (NPR Illinois).
National Guard showdown
When Trump demanded that Illinois activate its National Guard or face federalization, Pritzker called the move “an authoritarian march.” He confirmed that about 300 Guard members were federalized but never deployed on Chicago streets. “They had to stay on a federal base until it was determined by the courts—including the Supreme Court—that the President does not have the authority to send my Guard into our streets,” he explained.
While the federalized troops remained in place, the governor said the state’s legal resistance “prevented any direct federal National Guard presence on Chicago’s avenues,” a result he described as a tangible success of the broader resistance strategy.
Why a wealth tax matters to him
Beyond immigration, Pritzker reiterated his long‑standing push for a more progressive tax system. In 2020, he spent roughly $58 million of his own money on a ballot initiative to replace Illinois’ flat income tax with a graduated structure. Voters rejected the measure 55 percent to 45 percent.
“I’m a Democrat. I believe it’s our obligation to have a government that stands up for the middle class, the working class, the most vulnerable,” the governor said. “It shouldn’t fall on the backs of the middle class; it should fall on the backs of the people who can afford it.” He linked his personal support for a national wealth tax to that principle, noting that he would be among those affected by such a tax.
Pritzker’s tax philosophy, he said, is less about ideology than about “paying for roads, schools, and the supports that the most vulnerable need.” He argues that Illinois’ constitutionally mandated flat tax benefits the wealthiest, while a graduated system would align the state with the federal progressive tax model.
2028 presidential speculation
When asked whether he is positioning himself for a 2028 presidential bid, Pritzker was cautious. “I’m running for reelection,” he said, “and I’m very proud to be the governor of the fifth‑largest state in the country.” He acknowledged that national figures, including political strategist James Carville, have publicly voiced support for his potential candidacy, but he stressed that his immediate focus remains on “the accomplishments that we need to make and that we’ve made, in the state of Illinois and for the people of Illinois.”
Nonetheless, the governor highlighted his role as a “test case” for organized state‑level opposition to a federal administration he calls authoritarian, suggesting that other Democratic governors could adopt Illinois’ tactics in future confrontations.
What’s next for the Illinois Accountability Commission
The commission’s initial report, released in January 2026, documented dozens of alleged ICE violations during Operation Midway Blitz and issued policy recommendations aimed at curbing federal overreach. Pritzker said the next phase will involve “pursuing additional litigation where evidence shows civil rights violations” and “working with Congress to shape federal legislation that limits ICE’s authority.”
As the political landscape evolves, the governor’s “playbook” will likely be tested in upcoming legal battles and possibly in other states that seek to replicate Illinois’ approach. Observers..
Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts on Illinois’ strategy and its implications for national politics. Join the conversation in the comments below and share this article on social media.
