Chicago Tribune photo
PALOS PARK – "The bill I signed did not make Illinois a sanctuary … period, end of story," Governor Bruce Rauner told a group of Republicans gathered in Palos Park Saturday.
Whether the Trust Act made Illinois a sanctuary state is a topic that the governor has been facing since he signed it into law last year. His frustration with what he considers confusion over the issue was evident in his reply.
"Then why are they saying that?" one of the members of the United Southland Republican Women asked.
"Because they are political attacks to undermine me," Rauner replied. "Fake news. Listen guys, this is really important, it's really important. I have fought sanctuary every year, I have vetoed bills and stopped it. That bill I did sign – that was a 40 page bill when it started. It … made us a sanctuary.
"I said no, and we shrunk it down to a 2-page bill and all it does is do what judges said we need to do when we're interacting with illegal immigrants. It still says we should coordinate with ICE agents. In no way does it make us a sanctuary."
(Recording of Rauner's comments below)
"Thank you," the questioner responded.
"Thank you. That's a great question because there's so much baloney out there and false information. I vetoed three more bills that would have made us a sanctuary. Pritzker says he wants to make Illinois a sanctuary state. I fought against this.
"We have a massive illegal immigration problem in Illinois and America and I fought it every year. I've been spun in a false way. This is the baloney of politics – the reason why I've lost so much weight and hair. It's baloney. But you know what? We are not a sanctuary and I will never let Illinois be a sanctuary state. Period."
(Recording of Rauner's comments below)
What Rauner refers to as "Fake News" sources such as the Chicago Tribune's Hoy edition touted the headline "Illinois officially a sanctuary state for immigrants" on August 28, 2017.
The measure called "The Trust Act" Rauner signed among immigration advocates in August 2017 prohibits police in Illinois from detaining or arresting a person based on their immigration status or on federal immigration detainer.
The law does allow law enforcement officials to detain a person if they obtain a judge's order.
A representative from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) said “We think it is a dangerous bill that puts public safety at risk in order to accommodate some very narrow political interests. The governor was absolutely wrong to sign this bill.”
Listen: RaunerSanctuary
Responses to come …
