NW Illinois News

Ogle County Republicans Chairman Mike Koolidge said that George Levin’s murder highlights the urgent need for strong border security and immigration enforcement to prevent dangerous illegal migrants from entering the country. Koolidge made his remarks to NW Illinois News on February 4.

"George Levin's savage murder in his own Chicago home is a chilling reminder of why we need strict border security and immigration enforcement, which is finally here under the new Trump administration," said Koolidge. "If dangerous illegal migrants had been stopped at the border, Levin might still be alive today. Without action, more innocent Americans will fall victim to criminals who never should have been here to begin with. The Trump administration is closing the border and deporting illegal criminals to prevent heinous crimes like this, and any Illinois politician who gets in their way will have more blood on their hands."

According to Fox News, two undocumented migrants are in custody for the murder of 63-year-old George Levin, who was found bound with duct tape in his Norwood Park home on January 26. The Cook County Medical Examiner determined Levin’s death to be a homicide due to multiple assault-related injuries. Police sources indicate that the suspects, originating from Venezuela and Ecuador, entered the United States illegally via Texas during the summer of 2023. One suspect had been previously arrested in Chicago on January 12 for attempting to lure children but was released the following day.

CNN reported that the Trump administration conducted a nationwide immigration crackdown on January 26, resulting in 956 arrests and 554 detainers, marking the largest one-day total reported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The operation involved ICE, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Marshals targeting public safety and national security threats. White House border czar Tom Homan described the effort as a "game changer." Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said that local police were not involved. CNN further reported that ICE field offices face quotas as enforcement intensifies to meet deportation goals, with operations taking place in Atlanta, Puerto Rico, Colorado, Los Angeles, and Austin.

The Center for Immigration Studies reported challenges faced by President Trump’s planned deportation efforts due to sanctuary jurisdictions—state or local governments that impede ICE operations. These jurisdictions refuse ICE detainers, impose restrictions, deny ICE access to detainees, or limit communication with federal immigration officers. To assess their impact, the Center noted that nearly eight million illegal immigrants reside in sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide—about 56% of the total across the country. The report also highlighted that approximately 530,000 of these illegal immigrants live in Illinois, accounting for about 3.8% of the total in the United States.

Koolidge resides in Rochelle and was first elected as Chairman of the Ogle County Republican Party in 2022. According to the organization’s website, he is focused on increasing Republican voter turnout, expanding party membership, and communicating party positions on issues important to Ogle County voters.