Duckworth, Durbin, Illinois Democrats Release Fact Sheet Debunking the DHS Misinformation Campaign

[WASHINGTON D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and their Illinois House Democratic colleagues in releasing a comprehensive fact check of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) misinformation campaign regarding its dangerous immigration enforcement actions.
“The Trump Administration has continued to spin lies—about our city, the people they’re targeting and their excessive use of force against Illinoisans,”said Duckworth.Trump’s agents have deployed tear gas outside elementary schools, shot a priest in the head with pepper balls, violently attacked peaceful protestors and brandished weapons at innocent bystanders. They’ve detained a preschool teacher at a daycare, hardworking people with work permits and even scores of American citizens—and then put out misleading or outright false public statements to try and justify their unlawful actions. We will continue to push back against this misinformation, and I encourage Illinoisans to continue recording everything they see to shed light on the truth and help us hold this Administration accountable.”
“The Trump Administration continues to peddle outright lies since its unprovoked, unnecessary, and unhelpful enforcement activity in Illinois. The photos and videos out of Illinois are horrific, showing unspeakable acts committed by the United States government against its own civilians including teargassing, pepper spraying, racial profiling, excessive force, and physical violence. Neighbors are looking out for neighbors—but it shouldn’t have to be this way. We will continue to document and share the reality of what’s actually happening in Chicago and communities impacted by this anti-immigrant agenda—and hold the Trump Administration accountable for these atrocities,”said Durbin.
In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the fact check below is issued by U.S. Representatives Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17).
A copy of the fact sheet is available below and onSenator Duckworth’s website.

FACT CHECK: DEBUNKING THE DHS MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has repeatedly spread misinformation about events in Illinois and its so-called “Operation Midway Blitz,” only to be contradicted by eyewitness accounts, video evidence, and local law enforcement. Despite the evidence debunking these claims, DHS misinformation is being used by President Trump to support an unlawful and unconstitutional troop deployment to Illinois and to mislabel peaceful protestors, journalists, and elected officials as “Antifa.” This misinformation and the reckless, dangerous, and cruel actions of federal agents in Illinois should not be used to support the Trump Administration’s unlawful attacks on our democracy and constitutional rights.
Claim: Violentriotersare assaulting federal law enforcement.
Reality: Federal agents have engaged in excessive force against overwhelmingly peaceful protestors, regularlydeployingtear gas, flash bang grenades, and other weapons against protesters and journalists—and even members of the clergy—who are engaged in peaceful and lawful activity.
Claim:DHS is trying its best tocoordinatewith local officials in Illinois, and local policerefuseto cooperate.
Reality: DHS officials refuse to share information with local officials, and federal government actions have endangered first responders.
Claim: DHS law enforcement officers are notengagedinracial profiling.
Reality: DHS officials are arresting individuals on the basis of race or ethnicity. In fact, when asked, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovinoadmittedthat race and ethnicity play a significant role in arrests, stating that when considering arrest factors, an agent examines “obviously, the particular characteristics of an individual, how they look.”
Claim: DHS law enforcement officers are nottargetingU.S. citizens.
Reality: Immigrants and U.S. citizens alike have been targeted by masked, unidentified agents conducting violent raids, arrests, and arbitrary detentions.
Claim: DHS is arresting the“worst of the worst.”
Reality: Federal agents are mostly detaining people who havecommitted no crimesin order to meet an arbitrary3,000-person daily arrest quota.
Claim:Illinois is like awar zone.
Reality: Illinois is a welcoming, vibrant state that has long thrived thanks to the contributions of immigrants to our communities and our economy.
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