Pritzker Warned He Could Face ‘Seditious Conspiracy’ For Obstructing ICE Officers

Deputy White House Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller issued a blunt warning Thursday night to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and other state officials: interfere with federal immigration enforcement, and you could face federal prosecution — including seditious conspiracy charges.

Appearing on Fox News’ America Reports, Miller responded to Pritzker’s escalating efforts to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Illinois — an agenda the Trump administration views as a direct attack on federal authority.

“It doesn’t only apply to Gov. Pritzker,” Miller said. “It applies to ANY state official, local official, anybody operating in an official capacity who conspires or engages in activity that unlawfully impedes federal law enforcement conducting their duties.”

Miller made clear that obstruction will not be tolerated, outlining potential charges ranging from obstruction of justice and harboring illegal aliens to impeding the enforcement of immigration laws.

“As you get up the scale of behavior, you obviously get into seditious conspiracy charges, depending on the conduct, and many other offenses,” Miller said.

He emphasized that any state or local authority ordering officers to block or arrest ICE agents would be crossing into criminal territory.

“If you engage in a criminal conspiracy to obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws or to unlawfully order your own police officers or your own officials to interfere with ICE officers, or even to arrest ICE officers, you’re engaged in criminal activity,” he warned.

The senior adviser also reminded ICE personnel that they are legally protected while performing their duties on behalf of the federal government.

“To all ICE officers, you have federal IMMUNITY in the conduct of your duties,” Miller declared. “Anybody who lays a hand on you or tries to stop you or obstruct you is committing a FELONY.”

He added, “If officials cross that line into obstruction, into criminal conspiracy against the United States or against ICE officers, then they will face JUSTICE.”

Under federal law, seditious conspiracy carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The warning follows growing tension between President Trump’s administration and Governor Pritzker, who has repeatedly positioned Illinois as a “sanctuary state” defying federal immigration laws.

Pritzker recently signed an executive order establishing the so-called Illinois Accountability Commission — a state-run board aimed at investigating and “tracking” ICE agents for supposed misconduct. The move drew immediate backlash from law enforcement and constitutional scholars who say it borders on unlawful obstruction.

The Democratic governor has also sparked outrage for comparing President Trump’s enforcement of immigration laws to Nazi Germany.

“They’re literally going after Black and Brown people because of the color of their skin,” Pritzker falsely claimed during a Fox News interview. “We want the bad guys off the streets. What we don’t want is for people to get racially profiled. That’s what’s happening right now.”

He doubled down on the comparison, claiming ICE agents were “taking away people’s rights” and “asking them for papers,” suggesting such actions resembled “early authoritarian regimes.”

“I’m talking about what they were doing, taking away people’s rights, arresting people, asking them for papers,” Pritzker said. “Early on in an authoritarian regime, wherever it is in the world throughout history, this is what happens. It’s the beginning of something very bad for a country, especially a constitutional republic.”

Miller fired back, accusing Pritzker of political theater and willful disregard for the rule of law.

“Keep your citizens safe,” Miller said. “Stop giving cover to criminals and stop obstructing ICE officers who are simply doing their jobs.”

The Trump administration has made clear that federal immigration enforcement will not be undermined by local politicians seeking to score partisan points — and that those who attempt to do so will face the full weight of federal law.