Illinois lawmakers Respond to Increased Federal Immigration Enforcement
Springfield, IL – Illinois legislators are grappling with a response to escalating federal immigration enforcement activities within the state, characterized by some as ”lawless actions” that infringe upon due process rights. Concerns center on tactics employed by federal agents, including deployments of masked personnel, and a perceived disregard for established protocols regarding immigration enforcement locations.
While lawmakers have voiced strong criticism of the federal crackdown, concrete legislative action has been delayed thus far this week. Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged the possibility of “tweaks to the law” to bolster protections for Illinois residents, but cautioned about the limitations of state authority in this area.
Several proposals are under consideration for when the legislature reconvenes later this month. One key proposal aims to prohibit civil immigration arrests within and around state courthouses, excluding federal facilities. This comes after a reported increase in such arrests – at least 14 – at Illinois state courts over the past year, disrupting a previously understood agreement to keep courts as safe zones.Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans has already issued an order barring warrantless immigration arrests within Cook County courthouses, and lawmakers are exploring a statewide extension of this protection.
Legislators are also revisiting the state’s 2017 TRUST Act, which limits cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.Proposed amendments, sponsored by representative Lisa Hernandez and Senator Omar Aquino, would broaden the definition of an “immigration agent” to encompass anyone authorized to make immigration-related arrests, including National Guard troops. The legislation would also explicitly include campus police and school resource officers under the restrictions of the TRUST Act.
Another bill, introduced by Senator Laura Fine, proposes increased protections for vulnerable populations. It would mandate school districts to notify parents, students, and staff of confirmed immigration enforcement activity on campus, require healthcare facilities to restrict immigration agent access to nonpublic treatment areas without a warrant, and strengthen privacy protections regarding automatic licence plate reader data to prevent its sharing with federal agents.
Senator Celina Villanueva, a lead sponsor on the courthouse protection measure, expressed a firm commitment to defending the rights of Illinois residents.She emphasized the need for innovative solutions, stating that previous understandings regarding immigration enforcement are no longer being respected, and vowed to “fight like hell” alongside her colleagues to protect vulnerable communities.
This article is based on reporting from Capitol News Illinois, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service funded by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.