SPRINGFIELD – Despite threats from the Trump Administration to cut federal law enforcement funding to jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials, Illinois is moving towards becoming the nation's fifth sanctuary state after California, Connecticut, New Mexico and Colorado.
With one vote to spare, the Illinois Senate passed a SB 031 Thursday, which would set Illinois state-funded schools, health care centers and secretary of state facilities as "safe zones" for undocumented immigrants to find protection from federal law enforcement.
In those locations throughout the state, state and local police would be prohibited from arresting persons based on their immigration status – the same practice now in place in the city of Chicago and Cook County.
Those senators signing onto SB 031 are all Democrats – Sen. John J. Cullerton – Don Harmon – Iris Y. Martinez – Daniel Biss – Martin A. Sandoval, Cristina Castro, Heather A. Steans, Omar Aquino, Linda Holmes, Jacqueline Y. Collins, Patricia Van Pelt, Ira I. Silverstein and David Koehler.
The bill will now proceed to the Illinois House, where a similar measure stalled earlier this year.
A House query with the Department of Human Services estimated the minimal cost for the program would be $5 million, based on the current $1.9 million Immigrant Family Resource Program (IFRP), which educates and assists immigrants on Department of Human Service (DHS) benefits.
That amount would be likely to grow substantially, the findings showed, because in addition to providing multi-lingual education, DHS would be responsible for the required training of various providers–such as health care and education–statewide.
That number does not include the cost of the state-provided benefits for those escaping law enforcement – and encouraging non-citizens to evade federal laws.
"I just didn't want to lose the irony of the moment that we're going to pass a law to tell law enforcement not to enforce the law," the Tribune reported Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, said during the Senate debate.
When Illinois Review reported on this measure being introduced in the Illinois House earlier this year, nine Democrats had signed on as co-sponsors. The number of House Democrats signing onto the idea has increased substantially since that time:
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch – Kathleen Willis – Elizabeth Hernandez – Theresa Mah – Robyn Gabel, Ann M. Williams, Gregory Harris, Thaddeus Jones, Silvana Tabares, Kelly M. Cassidy, Michael J. Zalewski, Laura Fine, Litesa E. Wallace, Christian L. Mitchell, Rita Mayfield, Lawrence Walsh, Jr., Will Guzzardi, Luis Arroyo, Camille Y. Lilly, Daniel J. Burke, Sam Yingling, La Shawn K. Ford, Anna Moeller, Barbara Flynn Currie, Juliana Stratton, Natalie A. Manley, Sara Feigenholtz, William Davis, Jaime M. Andrade, Jr., Linda Chapa LaVia and Carol Ammons
We do not want Illinois as sanctuary state. We want illegals out.
I agree! We don’t want them here.
The state I was born in, grew up in & still live in for 69 yrs this month has gotten more insane over the years than anyone could have ever imagined. But THIS?? This is OVER THE TOP!!
I would love for the Senate and the Congress to do what Their constituents ask them to do. It is become more and more commonplace for these politicians to do what they want to do instead of listening to the voters. It is very unfortunate for the people of our country. The politicians who are not following the wants of their constituency are taking us down roads that we do not want to travel down. I think that we need to start a petition to stop this nonsense. Also, when it comes election time for congress and senate.You PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES POSTED HERE!
Anyone that tries to make it so people are not subjected to the laws that are supposed to be protecting us need to be put in jail themselves. This is just a horrible consequence for the people who pay taxes and work hard to make our country America. It used to be years ago that immigrants who came into this country we’re proud to be an American. They wanted to assimilate. They wanted to be an American. Now, maybe it’s just me, I see the opposite happening. I see people coming into this country they hate the people in America. They don’t want to speak English. They do not assimilate anymore. It’s taking America and turning it into another country. It really bothers me to hear people running around this country speaking other languages. Their kids are speaking other languages You can tell that they don’t know English at all. That is what I really get upset about. I do not mind the other languages….I mind that they do not know and understand English. I would love for the Senate and the Congress to do what their constituents ask them to do. It has become more and more common place for these politicians to do what they want to do instead of listening to the voters that gave them the job of being their spokesperson in government. It is very unfortunate for the people of our country. They’re taking us down roads that we do not want to travel down. I think that we need to start a petition to stop this nonsense. Anyone that tries to make it so people are not subjected to the laws that are supposed to be protecting us need to be put in jail themselves. This is just a horrible consequence for the people who pay taxes and work hard to make our country America. It used to be that immigrants who came into this country we’re proud to be an American. They wanted assimilate. They wanted to be an American. Now, maybe it’s just me, but I see the opposite happening. I see people coming into this country that hate America. They don’t want to speak English. They do not assimilate anymore. They are taking America and turning it into another country. It really bothers me to hear people running around this country speaking other languages in front of their kids. You can usually tell that they don’t know English. I think it needs to be mandatory to know this country’s primary language. I can’t even go anywhere when talking to customer service with companies without trying to deal with people who have a hard time understanding what I am trying to tell them. They might understand English but they don’t understand where I’m coming from because they’re not a true American. They haven’t learned everything else that’s behind the language. Just knowing the words doesn’t mean you understand it. Let’s get this changed. Let’s put the people here illegally on buses and airplanes so they can go where they belong. Let’s enforce the current immigration laws as they were written. Send these people back to wherever they came from. If they’re worried about their family getting split up we can send their kids back with them. It’s that simple….It really is!!
As one who is about to leave Illinois – I like the idea of making this a “sanctuary state” for illegal aliens.
This way, they’ll segregate themselves into places like California, New York and Illinois — and there will be fewer of them, where I’m going to live.
Besides – even the Republicans didn’t vote for Trump in Illinois. They deserve this.
A better way to handle illegal immigration is to create and enforce stiff penalties for businesses and individuals who hire illegal immigrants. Law enforcement and the courts to must enforce the current laws against hiring illegal persons, and those laws need to increase the penalties to include jail time. The vast majority of illegal immigrants come because they can get jobs. Put an end to job availability, and we won’t need a “wall.”
69 as well and just filed for Florida residency Goodbye and good ridence Illinois!
Speak for yourself!
I WILL NOT!!…ABIDE BY THIS DISGUSTING PIECE OF GARBAGE LAW.
Illinois Review curious where is the support and public outrage from Republican legislators in stopping this or at least making it a public fight? The ONLY GOP Legislator quoted is again, Sen. Tim Bivens. And, why are we not hearing ANY opposition from conservative media and organizations? Where’s the beef from the right????
Rewarding law breakers… I know which party you vote for
English should be the language for Illinois. Our state legislators should make it a law that all state documents be only in the English languages.
In God We Trust
Carl Lambrecht
847 432 8255
So, then they’ll come here, register to vote Democrat, and get on the welfare gravy-train instead?
Nope. They aren’t citizens.
As long as there are people willing to hire illegal immigrants, they will come. Strict punishments for those who hire illegal immigrants will be much more effective in stemming illegal immigration than the one-by-one deportation approach the U.S. is currently taking.
Go after the business owners who hire illegal immigrants and give them the opportunity and reason to be here.