Chicago City Wire

Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Ted for Illinois, announced his intention to end Illinois's sanctuary status and prioritize residents. He sharply criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker's handling of federal immigration enforcement in a recent press release.

"Recent developments in Chicago raise extremely grave concerns regarding Gov. J.B. Pritzker's policies and actions surrounding federal immigration enforcement," said Dabrowski, Gubernatorial candidate for Illinois. "Yet Pritzker calls ICE agents 'jackbooted thugs' who he says should get the hell out of Chicago. He's flirting dangerously with the promotion of insurrection. I will strongly pursue an end to the state's sanctuary status and re-prioritize Illinoisans over criminals."

According to The Guardian, the clash between Governor Pritzker and federal immigration authorities has intensified as the governor continues to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Chicago. This dispute underscores a growing divide between state leaders and federal agencies over immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies.

The Illinois Attorney General has said that the state's "sanctuary" framework is based on the 2017 TRUST Act, which limits local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. A June 2025 guidance from the Illinois Attorney General reiterates restrictions on detainers, administrative warrants, and coordination with ICE, influencing how state and local agencies interact with federal officers.

Reporting indicates that Pritzker used the term "jackbooted thugs" as protests and federal activity near the ICE facility in Broadview escalated. This occurred amid concerns over tactics and public safety, placing these remarks within the context of increased enforcement actions in Chicago and legal disputes regarding deployments.

Dabrowski brings over three decades of experience in international finance and domestic policy leadership. He spent 16 years in senior financial roles, including as Head of Corporate Banking at Citibank in Poland, where he advised the government on economic liberalization and managed multi-billion-dollar Treasury portfolios in Poland and Mexico. After returning to the United States, Dabrowski became Vice President of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute and later served as President of Wirepoints, a nonprofit focused on Illinois’s economy and government. His research has been cited by national outlets such as The Wall Street Journal. Dabrowski holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, an MBA in finance from the Wharton School, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech.