Illinois’ Democratic primary for retiring Senator Dick Durbin’s seat intensified Monday as candidates focused on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and President Trump’s immigration policies.
The first live debate, hosted by the Chicago Sun-Times, WBEZ, and the University of Chicago, came amid heightened national attention after two deadly shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. These incidents echoed last fall’s ICE enforcement efforts in the Chicago area, sparking widespread concern.
The three leading candidates—Rep. Robin Kelly of Lynwood, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton—each expressed support for dismantling ICE, though they differed on how far to go.
Stratton called for the agency’s full abolition, saying it cannot be reformed. “It doesn’t matter whose ICE it is,” she said, aiming to push past her rivals’ positions and surpass Gov. JB Pritzker’s stance of abolishing “Trump’s ICE.” Stratton’s approach attempts to create a clear contrast, though some Democrats worry extreme language could backfire politically, similar to past debates over “defund the police.”
Krishnamoorthi said he supports abolishing “Trump’s ICE” while advocating reforms such as banning agents from wearing face coverings, requiring visible identification, and installing an inspector general to enforce compliance.
Kelly emphasized a full overhaul of immigration enforcement. “The Department of Homeland Security is too big, too unwieldy, and not accountable,” Kelly said. “We need to dismantle ICE and build an agency people can trust.”
Recent ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol enforcement in Minnesota has intensified scrutiny on the agencies. In two separate incidents earlier this month, agents fatally shot American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, sparking national outrage. Senior Trump administration officials initially labeled both victims as “domestic terrorists,” though videos and witness accounts contradicted official reports, raising questions about the use of deadly force.
The controversy quickly entered Illinois’ Senate primary. Days after Good’s death, Kelly introduced articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, with Krishnamoorthi and most of Illinois’ Democratic congressional delegation as cosponsors.
Immigration dominated the debate even before it began. Krishnamoorthi and Stratton’s campaigns released ads emphasizing their positions on ICE. Krishnamoorthi highlighted the Trump administration’s use of ICE to disrupt communities, calling it “morally wrong and unlawful.” Stratton’s PAC released an ad framing her as the only candidate willing to abolish ICE entirely.
Stratton attempted to challenge Krishnamoorthi on past votes and campaign contributions. She noted he accepted nearly $30,000 from Palantir’s CTO, a company with ICE contracts, and criticized his support for a resolution thanking ICE officers last year. Krishnamoorthi defended the vote as part of a broader anti-Semitism resolution and noted that he donated the Palantir-linked contributions to immigrant rights groups.
The candidates also sparred over corporate political action committee funding. Stratton criticized her opponents for accepting PAC money, while Kelly and Krishnamoorthi accused her of hypocrisy, citing undisclosed PAC ads supporting her campaign.
The debate also touched on leadership in the Senate. Stratton said she would not support keeping Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in charge of Democrats, while Kelly and Krishnamoorthi said they would evaluate potential leaders.
The three candidates are scheduled for a second debate Thursday on ABC 7 Chicago. Early voting begins February 5, with the primary election set for March 17. The race includes seven other Democratic candidates and six Republicans, making the contest competitive and closely watched.
