Lake County Gazette

Jay Swidler, chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans, criticized Governor JB Pritzker's focus on attacking former President Donald Trump instead of addressing the crises in Illinois. Swidler said that this approach reveals "out-of-touch leadership" and supports Trump's call for accountability. Swidler made these remarks to the Lake County Gazette.

"Pritzker's leadership has become more about political theater than protecting the people of Illinois," said Swidler. "He's abandoned federal law, sidelined police, and opened the door to unchecked illegal immigration. Taxpayers are footing the bill while their neighborhoods suffer rising crime and failing services. Trump's call for Pritzker to face consequences doesn't just seem justified—it reflects the frustration of countless Illinoisans."

According to Capitol News Illinois, on October 8, Governor J.B. Pritzker responded to Trump's calls for legal action and possible imprisonment after Pritzker refused to protect federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Illinois by saying, "Come and get me." Later that day, during an interview in downtown Chicago, Pritzker described Trump as "unhinged" and a "dictator."

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social on October 8, Trump said, "Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!"

Wirepoints reported that Governor Pritzker has criticized Trump's deportation plans while Illinois faces its own challenges related to sanctuary policies. The state is home to approximately 530,000 undocumented immigrants. Since 2022, Illinois has spent $1.5 billion on healthcare for undocumented seniors and adults without federal reimbursement. Additional spending on housing, legal aid, transportation, and education—such as an estimated $400 million for migrant students in Chicago Public Schools—has increased costs further. The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates total state and local costs at $3.9 billion.

The Illinois Policy Institute reported that by the end of 2025, Illinois will have spent over $2.5 billion on migrant care, exceeding projections and straining taxpayers. Healthcare accounted for $1.6 billion through July 2024. The adult migrant program was expected to cost $126.4 million from 2021–2023 but totaled $485.3 million instead. The senior program cost $412.3 million, nearly double initial estimates. An additional $478 million has funded migrant services since 2023. Budget pressures have led to the termination of the adult program in 2025 as critics question Pritzker’s spending priorities.

Swidler is a resident of Buffalo Grove who was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Vernon Township voters."