U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday criticized the media and politicians, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, for “trying to demonize” federal immigration agents and the Trump administration’s enforcement operations, and she urged citizens to thank law enforcement officers and “cook a meal for their families.”

Noem, speaking in Florida, defended the ramped-up actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol and other federal agents under the direction of President Donald Trump and said “we have to stop the rhetoric,” which she contended gave cover to allow people to “perpetuate violence against those who enforce our laws.”

During her comments, Noem recited several administration talking points without providing any evidence to back up the claims, including that agents have arrested nearly a half-million individuals living in the country without legal permission and that most of those people had criminal records.

“I want to speak directly to the American people today and remind them and recall the facts that we are focused on the worst of the worst, bringing these individuals to justice. We’re not going to let individuals terrorize our streets anymore and we’re not going to let them make victims out of families that live in this country,” Noem said.

“Since January, the Department of Homeland Security has arrested over 480,000 criminal illegal aliens,” she said. “Seventy percent of those individuals have criminal charges against them or have been convicted of those criminal charges.”

Several studies have questioned Noem’s depiction of arresting the “worst of the worst.” A study by the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute found that from the end of May to the first two weeks in June the number of people without criminal convictions entering ICE custody more than doubled as the White House put increased pressure on agents to meet quotas.

Additionally, federal judges, including the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, have contended the U.S. Justice Department’s arguments for Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Chicago” are not consistent with the facts on the ground.

Asked about the arrests of people for “low-level crimes,” Noem questioned that constitutes such an offense.

“We have laws and we don’t get to pick which ones matter and which ones don’t,” she said. “Every single one of our laws has been put in place for a reason and, therefore, will be enforced.”

Noem also touted the arrest of a Chicago man and a “Latin Kings gang member” on charges of placing a bounty on the chief of U.S. Border Patrol, Greg Bovino. Juan Espinoza Martinez of Chicago was arrested earlier this month on one count of solicitation of murder for hire, but the government’s grand jury indictment made no mention of its previous allegations that he is a high-ranking gang member.

Noem spoke for 20 minutes at her news conference, where she praised Florida officials under Gov. Ron DeSantis for assisting with immigration enforcement and deportation issues, including the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility. While she noted she has been in Chicago for recent tours to view enforcement activities, Noem has not spoken to local media.

“Unfortunately, many times we see the news distorting the truth and not bringing the real facts of the stories to the American people,” Noem said. “Many times I turn on the news and listen to the networks. They’re not covering the victims anymore that we’ve lost because of these crimes. They’re not covering the individuals who have been brought to justice. Instead, they’re trying to demonize our law enforcement officers.”

Noem rejected criticism of aggressive enforcement actions by ICE and Border Patrol agents, saying, “I think that our law enforcement officers are doing everything appropriately and correct to make sure people are brought to justice.”

“That’s what today is, nine months of law enforcement officers finally getting to do the job again, finally getting to do what they took an oath to do, and that’s uphold the law and be fair and just in how they do that. And I’m proud of the work that they’ve done,” she said.

“I would ask you to please thank a law enforcement officer if you see them today, cook a meal for their families, support them, give a word of encouragement,” she said.

She also accused Pritzker, a vocal Trump critic and two-term Democratic governor who is seeking a third term as well as a potential 2028 presidential bid, of having a political agenda.

“Gov. Pritzker in Illinois is putting his people in danger every day by going against us and not working with us to make sure that we’re detaining individuals who have criminal charges against them or have been convicted and then rereleasing them out on the streets,” she said.

Pritzker is operating under the state’s Trust Act, signed into law by his Republican predecessor, Bruce Rauner, which prohibits state law enforcement from cooperating with immigration enforcement unless agents have a signed judicial warrant, not a self-authorized administrative warrant as the agency often uses. Rauner is now a resident of Florida.

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