Illinois gubernatorial candidate defends teacher's pro-ICE social media post
Ted Dabrowski of the State of Illinois has expressed support for a West Chicago teacher whose social media post backing federal immigration enforcement led to suspension. Dabrowski said that the teacher's post is protected speech and criticized local officials' response as hypocritical, advocating for an end to sanctuary policies in Illinois.
"The West Chicago teacher's personal Facebook post stating “Go ICE” is a simple statement supporting law enforcement and protected by the First Amendment," said Dabrowski, Candidate for Governor. "Local officials like West Chicago's mayor are effectively rallying the community against the teacher for a speech “crime” which is no crime at all. There is no similar condemnation of top government officials, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who have consistently engaged in violent, incendiary rhetoric against federal law enforcement officials, decrying them as “authoritarians,” “fascists” and “jack-booted thugs. To end the chaos on our streets, Illinois must join the vast majority of states in this country that reject sanctuary policies."
According to Dabrowski's statement, issued through his campaign's Facebook page, the teacher's expression aligns with federal law support. He critiqued local leaders for fostering opposition and highlighted broader implications of state policies on immigration enforcement.
In Illinois, sanctuary policies have hindered cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, resulting in the release of 1,768 criminal illegal aliens since early 2025. These individuals include those convicted of homicides, assaults, and sexual offenses due to local authorities' refusal to hold suspects for federal transfer.
Nationwide data indicates that failures to honor ICE detainers in sanctuary jurisdictions have led to releases responsible for numerous crimes. Border Patrol data further shows thousands of criminal alien arrests annually, underscoring public safety risks associated with limited local-federal cooperation on immigration enforcement.
Dabrowski is a Republican candidate for Illinois Governor. Previously, he led Wirepoints as president and worked over 15 years in international banking with Citibank in emerging markets. He holds advanced degrees in public policy and finance.