Stephen Miller says Gov. JB Pritzker could be arrested for “obstruction of justice,” “harboring illegal aliens,” “seditious conspiracy,” and other crimes.
Miller also reassures ICE they’re protected by the Supremacy Clause.
Law and order will prevail.pic.twitter.com/4vLej1KXsJ
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) October 24, 2025
Deputy White House Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller told Fox host Will Cain on Friday that anyone attempting to interfere with ICE operations could be arrested for engaging in a “criminal conspiracy” against the United States, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
In an appearance on The Will Cain Show on Fox News, Miller stopped short of denying that the federal government was willing to arrest the governor if Prizker took steps to block immigration officers from conducting raids in Illinois.
“The answer I’m about to give does not only apply to Governor Pritzker,” said Miller in response to a question about his willingness to arrest the governor. “It applies to any state official, any local official, anybody who’s operating in an official capacity who conspires or engages in activity that unlawfully impedes federal law enforcement conducting their duties.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/stephen-miller-floats-arresting-jb-010310006.html
Stephen Miller’s claim that Governor JB Pritzker could be arrested for obstruction of justice, harboring undocumented immigrants, or seditious conspiracy is not supported by any active legal proceedings, and the likelihood of such charges being lawfully pursued is extremely low.
Federal legal tools that could be asserted (in theory)
• Obstruction of Justice Federal law prohibits interfering with federal investigations or law enforcement. If a state official physically blocks ICE agents or destroys evidence, this could be considered obstruction. However, Illinois’s sanctuary policies don’t meet that threshold. Courts have upheld the right of states to set their own enforcement priorities.
• Harboring Undocumented Immigrants It is illegal under federal law to knowingly shield undocumented immigrants from detection. Miller might argue that state-funded programs or shelters qualify. But courts have ruled that general sanctuary policies do not meet the legal definition of harboring. Intent and direct action are required for prosecution.
• Seditious Conspiracy This charge applies when individuals conspire to overthrow or resist federal authority by force. It has been used in cases involving violent insurrection. Peaceful policy disagreement or legal resistance does not qualify. There is no legal basis for applying this charge to Governor Pritzker.
• Supremacy Clause Lawsuits The federal government can sue states if their laws conflict with federal law. These are civil actions, not criminal charges. The Trump administration could attempt to sue Illinois for interfering with immigration enforcement, but it would not result in arrest.
• DOJ Criminal Referral The Department of Justice could investigate and refer state officials for prosecution. This would require substantial evidence of criminal conduct, not just policy disagreement. There is no indication that DOJ is pursuing any such action against Pritzker.