Illinois Review

Rauner: "I will never let Illinois be a sanctuary state. Period."

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)

National legal immigration group: With Republicans like Rauner, who needs Democrats?

SPRINGFIELD - Friday, a national immigration group defied Governor Rauner's claim earlier this week that Illinois is not a sanctuary state. 

"ALIPAC finds Governor Bruce Rauner's comments ... to be false, disingenuous and dangerous ..." William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC told Illinois Review.

In an effort to unite his Republican base, Rauner said Wednesday, "...We can have issues where we can disagree, and by the way, I'm adamantly against illegal immigration and we are not a sanctuary state, and we'll never be one. I oppose that. But, you know what? We gotta unite."

Governor Rauner and his advocates have insisted for a year that Illinois is NOT a sanctuary state - despite the bill he signed last year forbids local law enforcement from being in direct contact with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency about persons that are in the country illegally that law enforcement is releasing from local imprisonment. 

Former Presidents Support Trump's Immigration Plan

In their own words, former presidents support Trump's immigration plan.

Thorner & O'Neil: Open Borders Pose Threat to US Constitution and Way of Life

Sun Times photo of "Families Belong Together" march in Chicago last Saturday

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil -

Giddy with excitement, Democrat activists finally found an issue to attack President Trump that resonated with the public: separating children from parents who were attempting to illegally enter our country from the Mexican border. Media sources favorable to Democrats and who appear at war with our President joined in the excitement by making the border situation appear as if our President and America’s border agents are heartless. 

The public was invited to believe a baby was ripped from his or her mother's breast by a border agent.  A Telegraph News headline stated: "Children separated from parents at US border were held in cages in Texas warehouse.”  Vox, a Leftist media source had this headline: “It’s not just cruel to separate a breastfeeding baby from a mom; It’s medically dangerous.” All these comments were designed to incite the public against our President and border control agencies.

Thorner: Illegal immigrant discourse plunges into hysterics

By Nancy Thorner - 

President Donald Trump was catapulted into office on the pledge to crack down on illegal immigration.  As of 2017, FAIR estimates the number of illegal aliens in the US to be approximately 12.5 million; however, estimating the size and characteristics of the illegal alien population is an inexact science.

Anyone claiming to have calculated a definitive number should be looked upon skeptically, as there is no central database of illegal aliens.  Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security only counts those who enter and leave in a lawful manner. Those who evade immigration authorities or sneak across the border are not counted.

Illinois AG Lisa Madigan signs onto Democrat demand to rejoin immigrant families

CHICAGO - Illinois' Attorney General Lisa Madigan signed on along with 17 Democrat attorneys general that filed a multi-state lawsuit Tuesday challenging the federal administration’s policy of forced family separation on the U.S. southern border.

“The federal government’s separation of children from their parents at the southern border is an atrocity that has already had profound consequences for families in search of a better and safer life,” Madigan said. “The inhumane and illegal separation of families must end and all of the impacted children must be reunited with their parents.”

In response to the Democrats' lawsuit, federal Southern California Judge Dana Sabraw - appointed by George W. Bush - ruled for immediate changes in handling the minors entering the US with their parents through locations other than designated ports of entry.  

Petition to oust Maxine Waters emerges on WhiteHouse.gov site

A petition appeared on the WhiteHouse.gov website Monday calling for the US House to oust Congresswoman Maxine Waters for inciting harassment of Trump officials over the weekend. 

"It's time for Maxine Waters to go," the appeal begins. "Waters has crossed a dangerous line, calling for attacks and violence against all Trump officials." 

The petition is in reaction to what Congresswoman Waters said over the weekend in California, when she called on Americans to "push back" against Trump officials, and make it impossible for them to shop, eat out, or go to gas stations. Waters comments are "irresponsible" statements from anyone, let alone a so-called Democrat leader.

Illinois Attorney General sues to end Trump Administration's "zero-tolerance policy" towards immigrants

CHICAGO — Attorney General Lisa Madigan, along with 10 other attorneys general, announced Thursday she is filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's policy of forced family separation on the U.S. southern border.

"The new federal executive order does not bring back together the thousands of families that were torn apart by the federal government's policy, and it does not prevent families from being separated in the future," Madigan said. "I will join with my colleagues across the country to bring action against the federal government for this inhumane and unAmerican policy."

Roskam lone IL GOPer to oppose Goodlatte immigration bill

WASHINGTON - A conservative response to America's long-simmering immigration dilemma was defeated narrowly in the US House Thursday, and many were surprised that one of Illinois' leading Republicans voted against the measure - veteran Congressman Peter Roskam.

Roskam, who is normally a dependable Republican conservative vote, joined the Democrat delegation from Illinois and voted "No" on Congressman Bob Goodlatte's H.R. 4760.

Chicago Tonight features discussion on immigrant family separations

Shannon Shepherd (l) and Jennifer Nevins (r)

President Trump's executive order to keep families together that chose to cross America's southern border at locations other than official ports of entry was the topic of conversation on WTTW's Chicago Tonight (PBS) this week.

The discussion - worth a listen in our opinion - was between immigration attorney Shannon Shepherd, a member of the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association; and Jennifer Nevins, a Trump delegate from Illinois to the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Gutierrez on immigration bill says GOP wants to be both arsonists and firefighters

WASHINGTON DC - In a heated discussion on Congressman Bob Goodlatte's "Securing America's Future Act of 2018" Thursday, Illinois' retiring Congressman Luis Gutierrez (IL-04) stepped to the podium of the US House and ripped Republicans, the President and anyone else that supported H.R. 4760.

"The reelection strategy for every single Republican Member of the House is to stand strong with a President willing to take children from their parents in order to look mean and nasty when children are fleeing for their lives. You own that. That is your campaign strategy...." Gutierrez said.

Then he stepped up the rhetoric as only Congressman Gutierrez can do. 

"Republicans want to be both the arsonists and the firefighters, and you can't be both," he said, pointing his finger.

How did your Illinois Congressman vote on H.R. 4760? All but one Illinois Republican voted yes, all Democrats voted no.

Watch Gutierrez' comments HERE on C-SPAN.

IL GOP Congress members call on Senators Durbin, Duckworth to re-open government

WASHINGTON DC — Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation released a statement Monday urging Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to re-open the government. The Senate is expected to vote at 12:00pm EST Monday on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through February 8 and fully fund the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years.

Di Leo: The Founding Fathers and the Immigration Debate

By John F. Di Leo - 

As we debate the ongoing question of immigration – not just who and how many to allow in, but also when, if ever, to allow them to vote – it might be helpful to remember the thoughts of our Founders on the issue.

It is now common for one side of the debate to say “we’re a nation of immigrants,” giving rise to the assumption that we always believed in open borders in the past, so this current concern about a wave of cultural invaders is something new… but in fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

215 years ago today, in fact, one year into the Jefferson administration, this very issue was in the headlines, as Federalist Party leader Alexander Hamilton assailed the President in a published op-ed, known as “The Examination, Number VIII,” for Jefferson’s political flip-flop on the matter. 

Chicago bakery loses $21M after 800 workers caught up in immigration raids

Photo from Univision news broadcast

CHICAGO - A Chicago area bakery lost one-third of its workforce during immigration raids in June and July this year that has cost them over $21 million, ARYZTA Bakery's 2017 report shows.

The bakery, which makes hamburger buns for McDonald's and other vending machine companies, says the recovery is taking a long time. They are being forced to increase wages in order to get the staff back up to the 2500 plus level. 

Judge rules against Sessions' attempt to withhold Chicago funding over sanctuary status

Chicago Tribune photo

CHICAGO - A federal judge ruled Friday against the Department of Justice's attempt to withhold funding from Chicago because the city refuses to cooperate in sharing immigration status info with federal officials.

“The court finds that the city has established that it would suffer irreparable harm if a preliminary injunction is not entered,” U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber wrote in his ruling.

Illinois AG signs onto lawsuit defending 42,000 state residents in DACA program

CHICAGO - When Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan first took her oath of office in 2003, she said these words: 

I do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of attorney general, according to the best of my ability.

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's daughter said those words again in 2007, 2011, and most recently in January 2015. 

Wednesday, she joined 15 other attorneys general suing President Donald Trump and his Administration for rescinding former President Barack Obama's executive order setting up the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in six months.

Victims' families grieve over Rauner's snub and new sanctuary law in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Those that have suffered the loss of family members at the hands of non-citizens in the country illegally were categorically denied calls from Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner before he signed a controversial immigration law into effect Monday.

Three of them conveyed their disappointment to Illinois Review after the bill signing.

What the IL GOP Platform says about Immigration

SPRINGFIELD - At the Illinois Republican Party's 2016 Convention, the state's GOP delegates overwhelmingly supported a platform that contained this strong plank on the issue of immigration. It emphasized a "front door" policy. 

The issue plank concluded with these words that rank and file Republicans are saying has been totally ignored by the IL GOP leadership - including Governor Rauner - despite Republicans throughout the state supporting this position: 

We call on the Illinois government to assist our federal government in the mission of protecting our homeland. We therefore urge reversal of “sanctuary city” policies, which bar our law enforcement officers from aiding Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents. Border control is a national security and public safety issue. We further call on the federal government to secure and protect our borders and vigorously enforce the law of the land.

We further call on the federal and Illinois government to abandon all incentives that encourage illegal immigrants to settle in Illinois, as these incentives put a strain on our already struggling economy and is insulting to those who immigrated here legally.

Does the Illinois Republican Party's platform mean anything at all?  Should IL GOP demand their party officials adhere to the platform rather than ignore it?

UPDATE 2x: Now six IL GOP lawmakers file effort to repeal sanctuary law

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." 

IL GOP warns not to believe "misinformation" circulating about immigration law

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Republican Party leaders are being told that the bill Governor Rauner signed into law Monday concerning how state and local law enforcement are to deal with non-citizens is really no big deal and not to overreact. 

National watchdog group files FOIA request of Governor's office on immigration bill

CHICAGO - Within an hour of Illinois' Governor Bruce Rauner signing into law a bill making Illinois the "latest sanctuary state," the national watchdog group Judicial Watch filed a FOIA request with the governor's office, looking for information about who the governor did and did not meet with before signing the bill into law Monday. 

Illinois Review asked Judicial Watch's Michael Bekesha why the national group was interested in Illinois' new state law. 

ACLU Illinois blasts Trump policy; lauds Governor signing controversial immigration bills

CHICAGO - The Leftist ACLU blasted the Trump Administration's immigration policies as "reckless" in a statement applauding Governor Rauner's signing of the controversial immigration bill Monday. They also congratulated radical immigration groups for their "tireless work" in pushing the bill through. 

GOP lawmakers call on governor to veto bill protecting non-citizens living in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Six GOP state lawmakers - four in the House and two in the Senate - sent Governor Rauner a letter Friday afternoon, asking him to veto SB 31, a bill that would protect non-citizens living in Illinois from Federal law enforcement. The bill, opponents say, would provide sanctuary for those in the country illegally. 

GOP Representatives Allen Skillicorn, David Allen Welter, John Cabello and Tom Morrison, as well as GOP Senators Kyle McCarter and Jim Oberweis signed onto the letter sent out Friday afternoon asking the governor to veto the bill, saying "the State should not interfere with lawful action by the federal government." 

Rauner emphasizes "broken" 10 times in national cable news interview

CHICAGO - This interview Friday afternoon between Fox News' Bret Baier and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner continues to create controversy Saturday. In case you missed hearing the Governor use the word "broken" ten times, here is the eight minute, 40 second exchange in its entirety:

Transcript of Fox News' interview with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner

CHICAGO - Friday afternoon, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner was interviewed in Chicago's Fox News studios by Bret Baier on his daily nationally-televised show. 

The interview created a national discussion firestorm, frustrating the state's political Right and Left, who said Rauner's responses created more questions than answers for the people of Illinois. 

Here's a transcript of the exchange, supplied by Fox News Channel:

Rauner commits to signing sanctuary bill

SPRINGFIELD - A group of pro-immigrant advocates met with Governor Rauner and say that he committed to signing SB 31, making every public school, hospital and more community sites places where employees are forbidden to ask citizenship status. 

That includes any Secretary of State office in Illinois - where drivers licenses are issued and voter registration takes place. (READ the four questions Illinois Review asked FAIR) 

From a press release issued today: 

Di Leo: Illegal Aliens and the Challenge of Statistics

By John F. Di Leo -

Illegal aliens are in the news again this week.

With over 20 million in the country (and yes, that may be a conservative estimate), it’s actually amazing they aren’t in the news every week… but there has long been something of a media blackout on this problem outside of the times when the Democratic talking points focused on them, as when the Obama administration tried, again and again, to convince the nation to just give them all citizenship. (For some people, nothing is too outrageous if it involves a large enough voting block).

This week, the case that propelled the issue to headlines was of a rapist, robber, and addict named Sergio Jose Martinez, caught in Portland, still committing crimes after having been deported twenty – yes, twenty – times before.

Illinoisans, knowing we have over half a million illegal aliens in our state, and massive crime as well, must read such stories and ask ourselves: How many Sergio Jose Martinezes must we have of our own?

Bill making every Illinois school, hospital, nursing home a sanctuary location sits on Rauner's desk

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is facing backlash on the controversial school funding bill he amendatory vetoed Tuesday. But while the media is focused on that particular hot potato, another one is cooking on the governor's desk, as well.

Will the governor sign into law a bill making every school, hospital, DMV center and nursing home a location where persons illegally residing in America can harbor from law enforcement officials? 

Di Leo: When Twenty Deportations Aren’t Enough

By John F. Di Leo - 

The news of the day concerns a repeat offender, so we will begin with the news, then move on to the analysis:

Sergio Jose Martinez, age 31, having been deported twenty times previously, was arrested in Portland, Oregon on July 24, having broken into the home of a 65-year-old woman, where he raped and beat her, then stole her car, a 2011 Toyota Prius.

New Enforcement Legislation Worth Watching: Davis-Oliver Act

WASHINGTON - All too often, American citizens and police officers lose their lives to illegal aliens who shouldn't have been in the country in the first place. The newly introduced Davis-Oliver Act is named after two such California law enforcement officers, Placer County Detective Michael Davis, Jr., and Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver, who were both murdered by a criminal illegal alien. A new bill would ensure that state and local law enforcement officials would always have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) says. 

The legislation was introduced May 15, 2017. As of Monday, no members of the Illinois congressional delegation have signed on in support of the measure. 

Thorner/O'Neil: Democrats and Leftist groups threaten nation's sovereignty, survival

By Nancy Thorner and Bonnie O'Neil - 

Having lost the House, Senate, presidency and most gubernatorial races, one would think Democrats would wake-up to the realization that the public rejected their Liberal message to consider what they might change to be more aligned with the American public.

That is not what Liberals have decided to do. What they have chosen to do instead may be a shocking revelation and possible wake-up call for many of our citizens. There is substantiated evidence proving specific Liberal leaders, a variety of special interest groups, and over one hundred Leftist, socialist organizations are all part of a conspiracy to create and fund a shadow government.

Tax dollars provide legal assistance for those facing deportation

CHICAGO - Precious tax dollars are being diverted to providing legal assistance to those facing deportation in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

While Chicago can't find funds to keep schools open, in December, at Mayor Rahm Emanuel's request, the Chicago City Council set aside $1.3 million they don't have for a legal defense fund to help immigrants threatened with deportation.

SEIU nursing home workers in Illinois threaten strike

CHICAGO — Representatives of more than 5,000 nursing home workers across 53 nursing homes in Chicagoland said Wednesday they plan to strike next week over "fair wages, staffing levels that ensure quality care for residents, and dignity on the job regardless of immigration status."

"Workers have been negotiating in good faith for a permanent contract for more than a year," Service Employee International Union (SEIU) said in a statement issues on their website. "Dozens of unfair labor practice (ULP) complaints have been filed against nursing homes for refusing to provide information legally required for good faith bargaining, as well as other violations of the National Labor Relations Act."

Di Leo: Citizens, Immigrants, and Illegals: A Long-Blind Nation Sees Clearly Again

By John F. Di Leo - 

There are about 95 million people of working age in America who are outside the workforce, some willingly, most unwillingly. They just can’t find jobs.

For as long as there have been movie theaters, there have been some kids who’ve snuck in without paying. Whether it’s for a single film or a double feature, they know as long as they’re in the theater that there’s a chance they may get caught.  At any point, they might be asked to show their ticket stub, and if they can’t… they know they’ll be tossed out.  If it happens, they won’t complain, they won’t threaten to sue, because they knew the risk all along, and they don’t want to make things worse.   Every minute they’re in the building, they’re nervous… and they don’t really breathe easy until they’re out of there.

There are about 95 million people of working age in America who are outside the workforce, some willingly, most unwillingly. They just can’t find jobs.

For as long as there have been resumes and job applications, there have been some people who’ve lied on them.  They may claim a college degree they didn’t earn, a past title they didn’t really hold, a past accomplishment they never really accomplished.  And they may get the job as a result, but they know it’s unearned, and they’re rightly nervous every day… until they’re found out, and bounced out, as a result.   When that day comes, they pack up their things in a box, and Security walks them out, on a day they always knew was someday bound to arrive.

The immigration debate: What does the Catholic Church teach?

CHICAGO - As the immigration issue moves front and center at national, state and local levels, some of the staunchest advocates of so-called "sanctuary" areas are the Catholic Church faithful. 

Latinos - in America both legally and illegally - find solace in Catholic circles, and their spiritual leaders naturally minister to them and their needs.  It is not unusual for family members to reach out for help in escaping immigration law enforcement. 

But there is a growing discussion as to what the Catholic Church teaches about issues associated with immigration. Should the Church encourage law breaking? Or should it treat illegals as Biblical "strangers"?

Nine House Dems push for Illinois schools, churches to be immigrant safe zones

SPRINGFIELD - Nine Chicago-area Democrats are pushing legislation in the Illinois House that would make every school, medical or health care facility and place of worship an "Immigration Safety Zone" - providing protection for foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally.

The measure would fan the flames of a nationwide debate over the rights of those that have evaded federal immigration laws. The law would allow those facilities to protect residents from federal immigration officials, and it requires those facilities to provide instruction to their personnel on how to provide assistance to those evading the law. From the bill's description, HB 426 explicitly:

Di Leo: Who We Are – And Who the American People Are Not

By John F. Di Leo - 

With a new administration comes, for once, a new clarity. 

President Trump is attempting to bring some sanity to our immigration programs – requiring vetting before admission of refugees, for example, so that we don’t suffer the horrific outbreaks of criminality – car fires, riots, gang rapes, honor killings, and the like – that Europe has suffered for years, at the hands of these very same so-called “refugees.”

And before the ink was dry on his Executive Order (almost word for word an executive order issued by his predecessors, with nothing radical about it at all), the George Soros –funded rent-a-thugs descended upon federal buildings, town centers, and college campuses to wreak the havoc that only lawless goons can wreak.

The Left screams that rational limitations on the endless hordes of non-Americans who want to come here are not “Who We Are”… as if George Soros had any say in our identity… as if the un-American Left were, in any way whatsoever, representative of who real Americans are.

So perhaps we need to explain what the events of November 2016 really meant… and how, after eight years of treasonous behavior by a corrupt Democratic president and his acolytes, the American people have reclaimed the right to speak for ourselves in declaring Who We Are.

Di Leo: The Vetting Process, from Legitimate Tool to Impossible Dream

By John F. Di Leo - 

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of talk about “vetting” people coming in from the Middle East.  In fact, however, it’s a much broader issue than that: it’s a need to vet people who come into the USA from anywhere.  

While any risk can theoretically originate anywhere, statistically, each region has different primary risks.

From some countries, it’s a human trafficking and prostitution risk; from others, it’s a drug trade and organized crime risk.  But of course the one most in the news is the terrorism risk, which originates primarily in muslim-majority countries (like the middle east) and in muslim pass-through points like Europe.

This is not to say that all people from Syria – for example – are evildoers, or that all muslims – for example – are evildoers.  But when you look at statistics, it is undeniable that a higher percentage of travelers from Syria will be evildoers than, say, travelers from Lichtenstein, Ireland, or Greenland… and that a higher percentage of a muslim population will pose a threat than, say, a similar population of Amish or Bahai’is.

Rhoads: Presidents vs. The Rule of Law

By Mark Rhoads -

Donald Trump may have to learn the hard way the same lesson that other presidents learned when they thought they were above the law or could defy federal court orders. The same people who condemned President Obama for his lawless abuse of executive orders are now defending President Trump for his lawless abuse of executive orders.

Only Trump's abuse already is rising to the levels of Nixon when he orders his Department of Homeland Security to defy several federal judges who have declared that Trump is violating the rights of American citizens with green cards by detaining them at airports.

Trump is not a student of history, but he is about to get a history lesson by not learning from the lessons of other presidents who also thought they were above the tule of law.

Trump approval rating hits 59%

PRINCETON NJ - Approval of President Donald Trump's performance during his first week in office has been steadily climbing - reaching the 59 percent level Wednesday, Rasmussen Polling says:

In the latest of this week’s executive orders, Trump has begun a crackdown on illegal immigration, adding thousands of Border Patrol agents, starting the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and cutting federal funds to so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce immigration law. He also has imposed a temporary ban on refugees from and visas for citizens of several Middle Eastern countries until the U.S. government can do a better job screening out possible terrorists.

Stopping illegal immigration has long been voters’ number one immigration priority.

Most also support Trump’s plan for temporarily restricting immigration from countries with a history of terrorism and for testing to screen out newcomers who don’t share America’s values.

Di Leo: Barack Obama and the Sowing of Minefields

By John F. Di Leo -

Reflections on Barack Obama's legacy...

While there is nothing particularly “happy” about warfare, some aspects are even more distasteful than others. There must be shooting in battles; there must be conquest of land; this is what warfare is made of. But some tactics go too far… such as mines.

In the 1990s, for example, the Ottawa Convention sought to put a global end to the use of mines – both land and sea varieties – an aspect of warfare that still costs several thousand lives per year worldwide, even long after the wars in which they were used have ended.

In warfare, the value of a mine is, of course, the fact that it can be left behind, without an army or navy contingent remaining in place to operate it. You just sow mines in a bay or harbor, or plant landmines on a valuable territory or along a border, and nobody dares return there without quickly becoming a casualty. Often horrific, but tactically advantageous. Sometimes justifiable if you're the one on the right side in the war in question.  Particularly horrible if you’re not.

But the biggest problem with mines is what happens after the war is over.  Since mines have no expiration date, they remain a danger forever, decades after peace treaties are signed.  There are still mines, dating back to WWII and other conflicts of half a century to a century ago, long-forgotten, awaiting the day when an innocent fishing trawler or pleasure boat, construction crew or vacationing family on a hike, will stumble into them with fatal consequences.

Humphrey: Immigration groups - even religious ones - promote lawlessness

By Valentina Humphrey - 

Illegal immigration has been a heavily debated topic during the presidential debates with candidates from the Democratic Party trying to leverage support from ethnic minorities under one promise: to grant immigration benefits for those who have entered the country illegally.

Undocumented immigrants cross our borders every day. Detention facilities for those arrested at the borders are filled beyond capacity, and benefits such as healthcare, education, and housing, that should have been given to our citizens in need, are being diverted to assist millions of immigrants who have illegally crossed the borders over the years.  

Di Leo: Multiculturalism, Endangerment, and a New Nationalism

Berlin Christmas market tragedy | Photo from Sacramento Bee

By John F. Di Leo -

On Monday, December 19, the last shopping week before Christmas, an islamofascist terrorist (most likely a recently-arrived “refugee,” as over a million such have arrived in Germany from the middle east this year alone) hijacked a truck and charged through a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least a dozen innocent shoppers, injuring some fifty more… in exactly the way that ISIS has been ordering its pretend “lone wolves” to attack innocents.

As Europeans have watched their birthrate plummet, leaving the tax base for their generous pensions in doubt, they have opened their doors to unfettered immigration.  First, we saw England’s open doors welcome in Pakistanis and Indians, and Germany’s open doors welcome Turks… then the procession became a flood, as Angela Merkel and her like have opened the floodgates to all so-called “refugees” from all over the middle east in recent years.  Europe was a Christian continent; it is difficult indeed to honestly say that today. 

This rush of third-worlders – not just third-worlders, but subscribers to the most barbaric subsets of islam - has brought a horrific crime wave to Europe.  Rape, murder, honor killings, every other imaginable abuse, as well as terrorism.  Obviously there are good people among these crowds too – statistics being what they are, there certainly must be.  But the percentage of dangerous criminals is inordinately high, by design, as so many so-called refugees are young men of military age, directed by their clerics to function as a silent invasion force.

Skillicorn: Chicago mayor threatens to break federal immigration law with tax money

By State Representative-Elect Allen Skillicorn - 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago’s aldermen announced Sunday the city’s plan to continue ignoring federal Immigration law. In 2012, the city of Chicago passed an ordinance instructing law enforcement and city agencies to ignore immigration status of illegal immigrants. If an illegal immigrant without any documentation interacts with Chicago Police or social agencies, for example, being pulled over for speeding or applying for welfare, the employee is prevented from reporting the person to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

O'Brien: 2016 Presidential Election Was 2008 Do-Over

By Teri O'Brien - 

Listeners to The Teri O’Brien Show know that I am fond of quoting the following statistic about the 2004 election in Illinois: one million people in the Prairie State voted for both George W. Bush for President and Barack Obama for U.S. Senate.

What are the takeaways from that statistic? You can probably come up with a few. My primary one is that Barack Obama, and the Left, were successful in deceiving a lot of well-intentioned people into buying what should have been obviously a con.

Foster: In case you missed it, Hillary Clinton is for open borders

By Howard Foster - 

Thanks to Wikileaks we know that Hillary Clinton gave a speech to a Brazilian bank in 2013 in which she said “My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders.” 

If the Trump campaign were focused on the real issues instead of survival, that statement would be front and center in the upcoming debate and might disqualify her for the presidency. No nominee of a major party has declared support for “open borders,” which means no restriction on immigration in our history.

Even during the decades of defacto open borders between the end of the Civil War and 1921, when severe restrictions were imposed for the first time, presidents always qualified their support for immigration by saying newcomers had to assimilate and could not be criminals, dangerous to public safety or likely to become a “public charge.”  The Democratic platform does not support open borders.  It supports our immigration laws (at least in theory) which limit the number of newcomers overall and by region of origin. 

Di Leo: Hillary Clinton and the Crime Campaign

By John F. Di Leo -  

We have long been accustomed to accusations of corruption concerning the Clintons.  Their family business is commonly known as the “Clinton crime machine,” and their biographies read like a rap sheet, listing scandal after scandal, from real estate fraud to rape, from investment fraud to bribery.

But the issue to be discussed today isn’t about Bill and Hillary Clinton and their personal corruption.   It’s completely policy-based:  Careful study of the Clinton-Kaine platform, amazingly, reveals – there’s just no other way to put it – a criminal-friendly, or arguably even pro-crime, agenda.

Perhaps this shouldn’t be so shocking, considering what we know of modern Democratic Party demographics and issue stances.  But to have gathered it all together in one place is truly surprising.

Former York Township GOP Committeeman publicly abandons Mark Kirk

ELMHURST - Immediately after Donald Trump became the Republican Party's presidential nominee, Chris Ladd resigned from his position as York Township GOP Committeeman and the Republican Party and made his reasoning public.

Tuesday, Ladd publicly blasted the state's incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in Forbes.com because Ladd sees Senator Kirk as "a bitter disappointment, slipping into the timid habits of the party’s other moderates." Now, Ladd predicts, Illinois voters are about to bring him home. 

Ladd's condemnation of Kirk isn't because Kirk is too liberal. In the 30 year Republican's eyes, Kirk isn't liberal enough. 

Di Leo: Crime Statistics and the State of our Cities

By John F. Di Leo - 

Chicago’s murder statistics are in the national news again.

Granted, we hardly need to date columns like this anymore, since Chicago’s murder statistics are always in the national news, nowadays.  It’s either the most killings in a month, or the most shootings in a weekend, or the most attempted murders in a year.  Which statistic may vary, but the general subject doesn’t.

August, 2016 was the most deadly month in a Chicago city in 20 years, with ninety successful murders counted in a single month (how many unsuccessful murders – known as “attempted” murders – is not tracked quite as carefully, because so many go unreported).  The city of Chicago logged 2300 shootings in 2016 by the end of August alone, easily on track to top 3000 such attacks by year-end.

The press bemoans it, and the politicians use it as yet another excuse to increase gun control, although how more gun control in a city that already has the most stringent gun control in the country would make any positive difference is beyond explanation.

Naperville Man caught lying about Chinese Communist Party membership

CHICAGO — Don't lie to the Department of U.S. Immigration. That's the lesson a Naperville man learned when he admitted in federal court Thursday that he willingly failed to disclose his prior membership in the Chinese Communist Party when seeking naturalized citizenship in the United States.

As if immigrants in America secretly associated with ISIS isn't worrisome enough, LU LIN, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to an immigration officer.  The conviction is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.