DHS hits back at Illinois county clerk who told ICE to stay away from primary polling places

By Fox News · Fox News

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rebuked an Illinois clerk after she warned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that they "won’t be tolerated" at polling places ahead of Tuesday’s primary election. DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek earlier this month warned ICE agents — whom she labeled "thugs" — to steer clear of polling stations, insisting illegal migrants do not vote in elections. DHS pushed back on her comments in a statement to Fox News. "ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations . ICE conducts intelligence-driven targeted enforcement, and if an active public safety threat endangered a polling location, they may be arrested as a result of that targeted enforcement action," a DHS spokesperson said. LAWMAKERS WARN PHILLY OFFICIALS AGAINST PROSECUTING ICE AGENTS: 'THAT'S NOT HOW AMERICA WORKS' Kaczmarek released a statement on March 3 railing against any potential ICE activity at polling sites , saying it is a crime for federal agents to interfere in elections or intimidate voters. "It is a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, to deploy federal ‘troops or armed men’ to any location where voting is taking place or elections are being held…" she said. "Those crimes will not be tolerated in DuPage County. Not on my watch. ICE, go away. Do not even try. You will fail." She also rejected claims that noncitizens vote, warning ICE not to use that argument to justify enforcement near polling places. "To ICE and the masterminds who employ you, IT IS A MYTH that noncitizens vote on Election Day. The very LAST place an undocumented person wants to be on Election Day is anywhere near a polling place. If caught voting, it would mean deportation ." She also said DuPage County, the second-largest county in Illinois, was the first in the state to allow residents to vote at any polling location. NOEM DEPLOYS TO BOTH BORDERS, SAYS ICE WON'T BE DETERRED BY SANCTUARY OFFICIALS WHO 'WANT TO CREATE CONFLICT' "The electoral process in…