Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem flatly rejected the request from the governor of Illinois, a state where the federal government deployed operations such as “Midway Blitz” and “Safeguard,” spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), primarily in Chicago.

In his request, Pritzker cited the safety of children and an incident on Saturday in which Customs and Border Protection agents deployed tear gas in a neighborhood where children were preparing for a Halloween parade.

Pritzker warned that “no child should be forced to inhale tear gas or other chemical agents while trick-or-treating in their own neighborhood.”

The leader of the Prairie State referred to the escalating allegations in Chicago and the rest of the state regarding officers using these types of devices at migrant protests. However, in rejecting the request, Noem also cited the safety of children. “We are not prepared to interrupt our work to keep our communities safe in any way,” Noem stated at a press conference held Thursday in Gary, Indiana. “It is shameful that Governor Pritzker would ask for this, and in my opinion, regrettable that he does not recognize the importance of our work in bringing criminals to justice and removing them from our streets, especially when our children are going out to events and enjoying the holiday season.” The Democrat specified his request regarding the vicinity of “homes, schools, hospitals, parks, places of worship, and other community gatherings where Halloween celebrations are taking place.”

Pritzker asked ICE for a Halloween “free of intimidation and fear” for the children of Illinois. "Their innocence should not be taken away. Let them enjoy a deeply rooted American tradition safely and peacefully," something that apparently will not happen.