Defiant Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Doubles Down: Refuses to Cooperate with ICE Despite Sex Assault Case

As though her defiance wasn't enough, Mayor Lightfoot added insult to injury by blaming ICE for the situation!

She said, "If ICE is complaining, then they should do their job better."

Of course, Lightfoot failed to acknowledge that by actively refusing to work with ICE and that by declaring Chicago a santuary city, she is creating a safe-haven for criminals and lawbreakers.

ABC 7 Chicago outlines the key takeaways from Lightfoot's press conference and her statements:

Both Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago police defended their decision not to cooperate with ICE on any immigration-related business Friday.

"The Chicago Police Department remains committed to protecting all Chicago residents regardless of their immigration status," Chicago police said in a statement. "Our pledge to restrict ICE access to our information systems and our refusal to cooperate with ICE immigration enforcement measures has not changed."

Lightfoot said "if ICE is complaining, then they should do their job better."

"They're critical because we have said very clearly we are a welcoming city, a sanctuary city. Chicago Police Department will not cooperate with ICE on any immigration-related business," she said. "And that's affected their ability to conduct immigration raids across the city. But that's exactly our intention. We have to make sure our police department is seen as a legitimate force in all our communities."

She added that the city has other federal partnerships that function well, but maintained that those relationships must be conducted in a way consistent with the city's values.

Puente has been previously convicted of burglary, forgery, trespassing, domestic battery and related offenses and has a record dating back 20 years.

If Mayor Lightfoot is quick to throw blame towards ICE, will she accept that her policies and actions have consequences that impact her constituents?

This wasn't Puente's first run-in with the law.

He has previously been convicted of burglary, forgery, trespassing, domestic battery and similar offenses.

There's a reason that he was deported by ICE, yet Lightfoot wants to keep declaring Chicago a sanctuary city.

ICE itself has issued a statement, declaring that Chicago's policies have directly contributed to this horrific sex assault of a 3 year old.

The Daily Wire has more on statements from ICE's Chicago field director:

Now ICE is blaming Chicago’s “Welcoming City Ordinance” — and its supporters — for facilitating a horrifying crime.

“How many more victims must there be before lawmakers realize that sanctuary policies do not protect the innocent?” ICE’s Chicago field office director told CBS. “Puente should have been in ICE custody last year and removed to his home country. Instead, irresponsible lawmaking allowed him to walk free and prey on our most vulnerable.”

Lightfoot laid the blame on ICE: “If ICE is complaining, then they should do their job better, and they shouldn’t do things that are traumatizing young children,” she said, referring to ICE operations where parents are arrested in front of kids. “That’s not acceptable, and I was very clear and blunt about that. How is that right?”

“They’re critical because we have said very clearly we are a welcoming city, a sanctuary city. Chicago Police Department will not cooperate with ICE on any immigration-related business,” she added. “And that’s affected their ability to conduct immigration raids across the city. But that’s exactly our intention. We have to make sure our police department is seen as a legitimate force in all our communities.”

ICE has again requested that Puente be held in anticipation of another possible deportation. Puente is currently in jail awaiting trial on the sexual assault charges.

It's time that our politician's follow President Trump's lead: put America first!

And yes, that means prioritizing American citizens -- those are your constituents!