Chicago City Wire

Steve Cortes, president of the League of American Workers, has criticized Illinois politicians, including Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, for fostering an environment in Chicago where law enforcement officers are "vilified instead of honored." Cortes made this statement to the Chicago City Wire.

"Extreme, anti-law-enforcement politicians like J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson have created a climate in Chicago where our brave officers are vilified instead of honored," said Cortes. "ICE agents risk their lives every day protecting American communities, yet they're now facing an explosion of threats because political leaders would rather appease sanctuary activists than support the men and women enforcing our laws."

Cortes' remarks were in response to a report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which highlighted an 8,000 percent increase in death threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The DHS emphasized that its agents are family members who risk their lives to remove dangerous criminal aliens and urged sanctuary politicians to cease rhetoric that dehumanizes law enforcement and contributes to the surge in threats.

According to the Chicago Police Department's 2024 Annual Report, there were over 700 assaults on officers, marking an 18 percent rise from the previous year. The department noted that growing hostility towards police presents a significant challenge for frontline officers, with continued confrontations during enforcement operations cited as a major factor in the increasing risk.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that 79,091 law-enforcement officers were assaulted in 2023, reaching the highest level in a decade. The report also documented 466 officers injured by firearms, representing a ten-year high in gun-related attacks. Federal data indicate that these assaults frequently occur during arrests or responses to violent incidents, underscoring heightened dangers nationwide.

C-SPAN identifies Steve Cortes as the founder and president of the League of American Workers and a former senior adviser to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. He has appeared on Washington Journal discussing voter and economic issues while representing the League. The organization advocates for working-class Americans in national debates concerning labor, border security, and immigration policy.