Illinois GOP bill would require law enforcement to coordinate with ICE
CHICAGO - Illinois Senate Republicans introduced a new bill Tuesday that would require state law enforcement agencies to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to report and deport undocumented immigrants who have been charged with felonies.
Sponsored by State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia), Senate Bill 1313 supports "targeted operations" to deport undocumented immigrants accused or convicted of felonies and calls on Illinois to take on an "active role" in helping ICE.
"Governor Pritzker claims he wants violent criminals who are here illegally deported, but the policies he supports make that impossible," Anderson said in a statement. "Our legislation gives law enforcement the tools they need to protect families and remove dangerous offenders. If the Governor is serious about public safety, he should support this bill immediately."
The bill's sponsor condemned Pritzker's support of the Illinois Trust Act, which bars local law enforcement from helping ICE unless required by law or a criminal warrant.
The Illinois Trust Act
What we know:
Illinois has set limits on what local law enforcement can do when it comes to federal immigration enforcement through the Illinois Trust Act and its updates. These rules make sure local officers aren’t getting involved in civil immigration matters unless absolutely necessary.
The law includes the following:
- Local law enforcement can’t hold someone just because of an immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant.
- Officers can’t question or investigate someone’s immigration status unless the law specifically requires it—though there are some exceptions, like for federal firearm checks or international agreements.
- Local agencies can’t help with federal immigration operations, share information about detainees, or transfer someone into federal custody for civil immigration issues, unless required by law or a criminal warrant.
- Illinois also doesn’t allow local or state agencies to make or renew contracts to detain people for civil immigration violations. Any existing contracts had to end by January 2022.
- Lastly, someone’s citizenship or immigration status can’t affect their access to benefits, services, or opportunities, like education or rehabilitation programs, while they’re in custody or on probation.
Legislation proposed by State Sens. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) and Andrew Chesney) seeks to repeal the TRUST Act entirely.
The Source: The information in this story came from Illinois Senate Republicans and our previous reporting on the Illinois Trust Act.