CHICAGO. IL — Today, JB For Governor released a new video featuring Latino business owners whose businesses were impacted by ICE raids during Operation Midway Blitz. They talked about what it meant to them to have the support of Governor JB Pritzker during an existential attack on their communities.
New reports estimate Illinois lost $1.26 billion in commercial activity and about $107 million in tax revenue since ICE enforcement increased last year. As families across our state continue to recover from Operation Midway Blitz, Governor Pritzker is standing up for small business owners who have been directly impacted by Donald Trump’s cruel immigration policies.
In the wake of these violent attacks on immigrant communities and small businesses, Darren Bailey has chosen to side with the people responsible. He defended Operation Midway Blitz, falsely claiming that the invasion targeted “the most dangerous people,” despite the fact that 81% of those arrested had no criminal convictions, and multiple unarmed, nonviolent citizens and immigrants were shot or assaulted. He also continues to stand by Trump, who has spread hateful rhetoric that endangers immigrant communities.
Gov. Pritzker will keep fighting to protect all Illinoisans, no matter their background.
TRANSCRIPT:
GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER: There’s one thing I really want to say to Donald Trump. If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me.
MIKE MORENO, OWNER OF OSITO’S TAP: When the governor had stated that they had to go through him to get to the rest of us, I think that was an incredibly powerful statement.
That was exactly the kind of thing that we need — a leader needs to kind of be able to put themselves at the front line and voice the opinions and the concerns of everybody in the state.
MARCO RODRIGUEZ, SENIOR V.P. OF DULCELANDIA: I think a lot of politicians have bent the knee down to this administration, and have allowed them to come in and come into their communities or cities.
I’m happy to know that we have a warrior with Governor Pritzker. I’m happy to know we
have a fighter, someone that’s going to fight for immigrants and immigrant rights and fight for my community.
JORGE HERRERA, OWNER OF OK CORRAL WESTERN WEAR: Si él vino aquí con la comunidad latina es porque está con nosotros los latinos. Nos hace sentir seguros porque queremos que esto se acabe.
If he came with to the Latino community, it’s because he’s with us. He makes us feel safe, because we want this to end.
MARCO RODRIGUEZ, SENIOR V.P. OF DULCELANDIA: It was something that was traumatizing for us, our team members, our community, and our people. And it’s something that I don’t think I’ll ever forget in my life.
MIKE MORENO, OWNER OF OSITO’S TAP: It’s very important that we have a governor that looks out for the people of the state and of the city. This is a problem that isn’t just affecting Latinos. This is affecting minorities as a whole. And I see exactly how much the governor cares, and I think that’s incredibly important.
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