UPDATE 8.31. 2017 – Republican State Senator Kyle McCarter and former sheriff Senator Tim Bivins reportedly have filed an identical bill in the Senate. More to come…
UPDATE 8.31.2017 – Two state reps added their names Wednesday as co-sponsors: C.J. Davidsmeyer and David Reis.
ROCKFORD – Two Illinois Republican state reps are very concerned about the immigration law enforcement measure Illinois Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law Monday.
State Reps. John Cabello (R-Rockford) and David McSweeney (R-Barrington) filed a measure Wednesday that would repeal a new law banning law enforcement in Illinois from stopping persons suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.
"I swore to uphold the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions when I became a legislator," Cabello told Illinois Review Wednesday. "As a member of law enforcement, I took a vow to uphold the law. I believe and trust in those oaths, and intend to do all I can to keep them."
The law many are referring to as the "sanctuary law" says law enforcement "shall not" detain or continue to detain any individual solely on the basis of any immigration detainer or non-judicial immigration warrant. Law enforcement "shall not" stop or arrest anyone solely based on the person's immigration or citizenship status. They are, however, not banned from implementing a "valid" judge-issued federal warrant concerning any suspects.
That is the definition of a sanctuary law, Cabello bill co-sponsor David McSweeney told Illinois Review. He pointed to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' office comments on the law.
"As the Attorney General has said, when cities and states refuse to help enforce immigration laws, our nation is less safe," DOG spokesman Devin O'Malley told Fox News. "Failure to deport aliens who are convicted for criminal offenses puts whole communities at risk – especially immigrant communities in the very sanctuary jurisdictions that seek to protect the perpetrators."
The attorney general's views were totally disregarded in a missive sent out by the Illinois Republican Party chairman Tim Schneider and County Chairman Association President Randy Pollard Monday night after Rauner signed the bill into law in front of an enthusiastic Latino audience in Chicago.
"I think it is important that people know what Attorney General Sessions thinks about SB 31. Tim Schneider, the chief cheerleader for the 'Capitol Compromise' massive tax hike is now presenting more 'alternative facts,'" McSweeney said.
Cabello said lawmakers are supposed to do what's best for those that are bearing the financial burden for decisions they make at the capitol. Not doing so will ultimately create consequences that political parties may not want, such as the base simply staying home in 2018.
"People are telling me they're so fed up with the party leaders and the governor that they're just not going to go to the polls in 2018. That's the opposite of what they should do," Cabello, who co-chaired the Trump campaign in Illinois, said. "They need their voices to be heard loud and clear. Staying home is not an option."
Only one Republican House member – Bob Pritchard – voted in support of SB 31 on the House floor. Four Five Republicans – Althoff, McConchie, McConnaughay, Nybo and Radogno – supported it in the Illinois Senate.
Cabello and McSweeney's repeal bill is HB 4091.
