Illinois Rep. Mary Miller Condemns Democratic States for Allowing Undocumented Individuals to Cause Preventable Fatalities

Illinois Representative Mary Miller, R-Ill., criticized Democratic-led states on Friday for their persistent refusal to enforce federal immigration laws, arguing that such policies contribute to preventable tragedies. She cited the death of an Illinois woman in a Urbana drunken-driving crash this year, allegedly caused by a Guatemalan man who lacked legal status and fled the scene.

Miller described the incident as “very upsetting” and linked it to what she characterized as a broader pattern of sanctuary policies that undermine public safety.

“I want to tell people that President Trump is completely committed to restoring law and order and safety and security in our country,” she said. “States like Illinois and other blue states that are flouting our federal immigration laws, that are providing protection and sanctuary and making taxpayers pay the bill in tragedies like this — and financially.”

Miller asserted that permissive immigration policies enable criminal activity and placed responsibility on state and local governments that have resisted federal enforcement efforts. According to her, such lack of cooperation creates an environment where dangerous offenders remain at large.

“These states are making choices that have real consequences for innocent Americans,” she stated.

Miller also highlighted aggressive new steps from the Trump administration to crack down on illegal immigration in Chicago and other major cities. She pointed to Department of Homeland Security initiatives and Transportation Secretary Patrick Duffy, saying they represent a renewed federal commitment to public safety.

“President Trump is taking bold steps,” Miller said. “Secretary Duffy and the Department of Homeland Security started Operation Midway Blitz in September to target Chicago and arrest these illegals.”

Miller claimed the operation has already produced significant results, stating more than 600,000 “criminal illegals” have been arrested and deported, with 1.9 million individuals removed from the country overall.

“We have only begun,” she added, arguing that continued enforcement will prevent further tragedies.

The Urbana crash remains under investigation. U.S. Marshals tracked down the driver three days after he fled the scene of the crime on a bus heading to Mexico. The man initially told police he was a 27-year-old Mexican named Juan Jahaziel Saenz-Suarez but later claimed his identity was false and that he was actually Julio Cucul-Bol.

Miller maintained that the incident underscores the stakes of national immigration policy: “Americans deserve to feel safe in their own communities,” she said. “This administration is committed to making that happen.”