Pritzker releases 1,800 Criminal Illegal Aliens Despite ICE Detainers

Summary

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The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Pritzker releases 1,800 Criminal Illegal Aliens Despite ICE Detainers
Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben Ferguson examines what he views as dangerous policies on illegal immigration implemented by Democratic leaders in Illinois, California, and New York. The central focus is on Governor J.B. Pritzker's decision to release nearly 1,800 illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes, despite active ICE detainers, and other recent incidents pointing to what Ben frames as the consequences of "sanctuary" state policies. Ferguson presents statistics, specific examples, and statements from officials, while sharply criticizing these officials for what he calls putting politics above the safety of American citizens.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Situation in Illinois: ICE Detainers Ignored

[03:49 – 10:31]

• Governor J.B. Pritzker and Illinois officials have released over 1,800 illegal immigrants charged with crimes such as murder, assault, burglary, robbery, and sex crimes.

• These releases occurred despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, which are requests to local law enforcement to hold individuals so ICE can take custody.

• Ben cites ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons’s public data reveal, indicating that Illinois authorities have failed to honor more than 1,768 ICE detainers, releasing those accused of violent and serious crimes back into communities.

• Ferguson details the charges:

  • 5 with murder
  • 141 with assault
  • 23 with burglary
  • 10 with sex crimes
  • 4 with robbery
  • 24 drug crimes (many involving fentanyl)
  • 15 weapons offenses

• ICE says Illinois had over 4,000 active ICE detainers, yet many serious suspects were released.

• ICE Secretary Trisha McLaughlin’s statement [paraphrased by Ben]:

  “Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing these murderers, pedophiles and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk...” (06:33)

• Ferguson provides specific cases:

  • Victor Manuel Menendez Garcia: Convicted kidnapper with an 18-year sentence, released and not turned over to ICE.
  • Juan Morales Martinez: Involved in a fatal vehicle crash, ICE had to find and arrest him after Illinois released him.
  • Gonzalez Jimenez: Convicted of DUI, domestic battery, and two counts of criminal sexual assault—detainer refused, later arrested by ICE after release.
  • Juan Alberto Caro Morin: Convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, ICE detainer not honored.

• Quote:

  "Yet again, Illinois saying no, we'd rather play politics than keep our citizens safe from these dangerous criminals." – Ben Ferguson [09:55]

California and the Tragic Death of a Child

[10:32 – 12:58]

• Ben turns to California, citing the case of a Guatemalan illegal immigrant who allegedly caused a fatal drunk driving accident, killing an 8-year-old girl in San Diego.
• Alva Rodriguez, with a history of DUI and hit-and-run, drove head-on into another vehicle, severely injuring others and killing the young girl.
• This individual had prior DUI arrests in 2020 and 2021 but was not removed from the U.S.
• Secretary Noem and ICE condemned the incident, blaming Governor Gavin Newsom's sanctuary policies.
• Quote:

  "How many deaths of children at the hands of criminal legal aliens need to happen before Governor Newsom and sanctuary politicians will prioritize the safety and security of American families?" – Ben Ferguson, citing DHS statement [12:25]

• Ferguson underscores the narrative that sanctuary policies directly endanger citizens, especially children.

New York City: Mayor-Elect’s Stand Against ICE

[13:00 – 15:39]

• Ferguson highlights New York City’s new mayor-elect (Mandani; later, Eric Adams speaks in a clip), castigating him for helping illegal immigrants avoid ICE.

• The mayor-elect released a video advising immigrants on their rights during ICE encounters, including not allowing entry without a judicial warrant, remaining silent, and filming officers.

• Eric Adams (Mayor-elect, direct quotes):

  • "If ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say I do not consent to entry and the right to keep your door closed." [14:45]

  • "ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent." [15:01]

  • "New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I'm mayor, we will protect that right. New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebrate our neighborhood brothers and sisters." [15:33]

• Ferguson’s commentary:

  "That is the Mayor elect of New York making it very clear he doesn't work for the citizens of New York and said he works for the illegal immigrants and telling them everything he can to help them continue to break the laws." [15:39]

Federal Response and Trump Administration

[15:39 – 16:18]

• Ferguson asserts President Trump is undeterred by state non-cooperation, vowing to allocate more resources to track, arrest, and deport criminal illegal immigrants.

• Ben frames this as a struggle between federal law enforcement and "radical" state/local leaders who "refuse to work with ICE" and "put illegal immigrants ahead of American citizens.”

• Quote:

  "One thing is for sure, the President of the United States of America has promised no matter what, to go wherever these criminals are to find them, to hunt them down and to bring them to justice." [16:02]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Democrats have chosen to put more lives at risk. Your life is one of them." – Ben Ferguson [03:38]
• "Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing these murderers, pedophiles and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk..." – Quoting DHS Secretary Trisha McLaughlin [06:33]
• "Yet again, Illinois saying no, we'd rather play politics than keep our citizens safe from these dangerous criminals." – Ben Ferguson [09:55]
• "How many deaths of children at the hands of criminal legal aliens need to happen before Governor Newsom and sanctuary politicians will prioritize the safety and security of American families?" – (citing DHS statement) [12:25]
• "ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school, or a private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge..." – Eric Adams, Mayor-elect [14:45]
• "That is the Mayor elect of New York making it very clear he doesn't work for the citizens of New York and said he works for the illegal immigrants..." – Ben Ferguson [15:39]
• "The President of the United States has promised...to go wherever these criminals are to find them, to hunt them down and to bring them to justice." – Ben Ferguson [16:02]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Illinois: Pritzker, ICE detainers, and crime data: [03:49 – 10:31]
• Case studies and ICE statements: [05:00 – 09:55]
• California: Fatal crash involving illegal immigrant: [10:32 – 12:58]
• NYC Mayor-elect addresses ICE and immigrant rights: [13:00 – 15:39]
• Federal response and Trump administration’s position: [15:39 – 16:18]

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Tone & Delivery

Ben Ferguson’s tone is urgent, forceful, and highly critical of Democratic leadership in Illinois, California, and New York. He frames the issue of non-cooperation with ICE as both a partisan and public safety crisis, often referencing data, anecdotal cases, and official statements to assert that these policies endanger Americans. There’s an emphasis on the President’s continued efforts and a sense of direct, no-nonsense commentary that characterizes Ferguson’s voice throughout.

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For listeners seeking a comprehensive, critical take on the intersection of immigration policy, crime, and partisan conflict, this episode provides a dense and polemical overview of recent headline-grabbing controversies.

Transcript

[Ben Ferguson]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

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[Ben Ferguson]

Delighted to announce this afternoon that the United States will be taking a small portion of the hundreds of billions of dollars we receive in tariffs. And we're going to be giving and providing it to the farmers in economic assistance. And we love our farmers and they're great people, the backbone of our country.

[Ben Ferguson (Host)]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

[Ben Ferguson]

Good Tuesday morning. It's so nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got two stories under one big subject and it deals with illegal immigration. J.D. pritzker, the governor in Illinois, has now freed nearly 1,800 illegal aliens charged with murder, assault and sex crimes. This on top of Gavin Newsom doing something that will shock you even more. Allowing for another illegal immigrant to kill an 8 year old girl in a drunk driving crash. Why is this happening? We'll explain it to you, but first I want to tell you about our friends over at Patriot Mobile. Every so often, something happens that reminds us just how fragile our freedoms are. We can't afford to take our rights for granted. We must draw a line in the sand. And our friends at Patriot Mobile have been doing just that for more than 12 years. The truth is, there is only one provider that boldly stands in the gap for Americans who believe freedom is worth fighting for. And that company is Patriot Mobile. 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Go to patriotmobile.com ben47 or or call 9-72-patriot and if you use the promo code Ben47, you're going to get a free month of service. That's patriotmobile.com Ben47 or 972-patriot and make the switch today. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, Democrats have chosen to to put more lives at risk. Your life is one of them. With the new moves that they're doing to undermine Donald Trump and the laws in this nation. The sanctuary state of Illinois has now released more than 1,800 illegal aliens. They've been charged with crimes such as murder, assault, burglary, robbery and sex crimes, including crimes against children. And they released them on purpose back in the communities since Donald Trump took office in late January. The new data is exposing all of this. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons released the data on Monday while urging Illinois's attorney general to honor more than 4,000 active ICE detainers that the agency has lodged against criminal legal aliens in the sanctuary state of Illinois. In particular, Lyons said Illinois officials have already failed to honor more than 1768 ICE detainers and release the illegal aliens back into neighborhoods. Among those illegal aliens that have been released back into America, five charged with murder who are now walking among us 141 charged with assault, walking among us 23 charged with burglary, walking among us 10 charged with sex crimes, now walking among us and four charged with robbery. 24 charged with drug crimes, many of them dealing with fentanyl that are killing Americans. And 15 charged with weapons offenses as well. Meanwhile, the crimes of more than 4,000 illegal aliens with active ICE detainers in Illinois, including 51 charged with murder, 1,134 charged with assault, 107 charged with burglary, 36 charged with robbery, 275 charged with drug crimes and 120 charged with weapons offenses. And this is the one that is the most shocking 813 illegal aliens charged with sex crimes. Governor Pritzker and his fellow Illinois sanctuary politicians are releasing these murderers, pedophiles and kidnappers back into our neighborhoods and putting American lives at risk, the Department of Homeland security secretary Trisha McLaughlin said in a statement. She then said, we are calling on Governor Pritzker and his administration to stop this dangerous derangement and commit to honoring the ICE arrest detainers of the more than 4,000 criminal legal aliens in Illinois's custody, it is common sense. Criminal legal aliens should not be released back into our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans, ICE officials said. Illinois has released from custody and failed to honor detainers for illegal aliens such as a 49 year old Victor Manuel Menendez Garcia of Mexico, who was convicted of kidnapping for ransom and sentenced to 18 years in prison. A new release from ICE detailed other instances where illegal aliens were released from custody instead of being turned over to ICE agents. Juan Morales Martinez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, for example, was arrested after a vehicle crash near Westfield, Illinois where he was a passenger. Early reports the vehicle crash showed not one but two fatalities. It was a county board member and his wife. Police also found an extended magazine and ammunition in the vehicle. On October 25, ICE lodged a detainer on Morales Martinez. October 27, ICE arrested Morales after his release from the Clark County Jail. The jail did not cooperate with ice, but ICE officers suspected his release and performed an enforcement action outside of the county jail. He has now been removed from the United States of America, but he would be among us if it was left up to the sanctuary state of Illinois. There was another man by the name of Gonzalez Jimenez, an illegal alien from Mexico. He was arrested and convicted for one count of driving under the influence and domestic battery and two counts of criminal sexual assault. Yet again, Illinois chose deliberately to refuse the ICE detainer for this individual, again accused of two counts of criminal sexual assault. On November 13, ICE arrested the man as he was released from jail. Juan Alberto Caro Morin, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested and convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim and a family and sentenced to six years in Illinois's Department of Corrections. ICE detainer for that man was also not honored on November 9th, ICE arrested Carl Marin, where he is currently in ICE custody. Yet again, Illinois saying no, we'd rather play politics than keep our citizens safe from these dangerous criminals. This is just one example of what Donald Trump and our government is up against as time and time again these radicals in radical cities and states around the country are constantly refusing to work with ICE to keep Americans safe. And yet again, the President is not backing down, sending more resources to Illinois to find and to put into custody these more than 1,800 illegal aliens charged with murder, assault, sex crimes. And what has happened. Illinois chose to put them back into our neighborhoods instead of hand them over to ice.

[Ben Ferguson (Host)]

Now story number two.

[Ben Ferguson]

It's not just in Illinois where the radicals are defying Donald Trump and putting Americans lives at risk and many Americans are actually losing their lives. Another sad and shocking story is now coming out of California where an illegal alien is accused of drunk driving and causing a crash that left an 8 year old girl dead. In the sanctuary state of California Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents lodged a detainer against a 25 year old Guatemala man after he allegedly caused a head on collision on a San Diego highway that resulted in the death of the eight year old little girl. According to local police, Alva Rodriguez was driving a 2005 Toyota Tacoma truck when he crossed lanes and hit a Toyota Camry head on. The driver of The Camry, a 26 year old man from Yuma, Arizona suffered major injuries as did his front passenger, a 28 year old woman. Three children in the back of the Camry, a five year old boy, a four year old girl and an eight year old girl were taken to a nearby children's hospital. The girl did not survive her injuries and died at that hospital. How many deaths of children at the hands of criminal legal aliens need to happen before Governor Newsom and sanctuary politicians will prioritize the safety and security of American families? That's what the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. ICE officials said that Rodriguez had a history of drunk driving, including a 2020 arrest for driving under the influence and then another arrest in 2021 for driving under the influence and a hit and run. This serial drunk driver should never have been allowed back onto California roads. We are praying for the family of this child who will be grieving this holiday season. Secretary Noem is now calling on Governor Newsom to honor this ICE arrest detainer for this illegal alien. And yet again you have another elected official in another sanctuary state that is saying I will put illegal immigrants ahead of American citizens. And that's not the only place it's happening. The New York Mayor Mandani now telling illegal aliens in New York City how to stand up to ICE agents the New York City Democratic Socialist mayor elect now giving lessons telling illegal immigrants in this area that you must stand up to ICE agents. The news comes as President Trump's administration has been working to safeguard American communities from illegal alien crime, and his federal officials have been arresting the worst of the worst criminal aliens. In a video posted on Sunday, Mandani talked about a recent ICE raid in Chinatown, adding, when he officially becomes a mayor, he will protect all New York residents, and that means the illegal immigrants. He said that includes the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city their home. But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights, he said. And then he gave points about avoiding ICE agents altogether, saying, quote, ice cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school, or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. He went on to explain that they had a right to keep their door shut, literally telling the criminals exactly how to fight back and not be arrested.

[Eric Adams]

Last weekend, ICE attempted to raid Canal street and detain our immigrant families. As mayor, I'll protect the rights of every single New Yorker, and that includes the more than 3 million immigrants who call the city their home. But we can all stand up to ice. If you know your rights. If you encounter ice, these are the things that every New Yorker should know. First, ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school, or a private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge that looks like this.

If ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say I do not consent to entry and the right to keep your door closed. Sometimes ICE will show you paperwork that looks like this.

And tell you that they have the right to arrest you.

That is false. ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If you're being detained, you may always ask, am I free to go? Repeatedly until they answer you. You are legally allowed to film ICE as long as you do not interfere with an arrest. It is important to remain calm during any interaction with ICE or law enforcement. Do not impede their investigation, resist arrest, or run. One last thing. New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I'm mayor, we will protect that right. New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebr our neighborhood brothers and sisters.

[Ben Ferguson]

That is the Mayor elect of New York making it very clear he doesn't work for the citizens of New York and said he works for the illegal immigrants and telling them everything he can to help them continue to break the laws. So yet again we are having a conversation about more Americans who are being killed. One thing is for sure, the President of the United States of America has promised no matter what, to go wherever these criminals are to find them, to hunt them down and to bring them to justice. Even if the radicals on the left like Mandani or Newsom or Pritzker are doing everything they can to stop illegal immigrants from being deported.

[Ben Ferguson (Host)]

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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[Ben Ferguson (Host)]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Ben Ferguson (Host)]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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