
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)