Chicago City Wire

Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) officials oppose a bill supported by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that would expand the state’s sanctuary status.  

“Both the Senate and House of Representatives have veto-proof Democrat majorities and Gov. Pritzker (D) continues to advocate for even more benefits for illegal aliens, while putting Illinois citizens last,” FAIR legislative advisor Tanner Bonovitch said on the organization’s website.

Known as the “Illinois Trust Act” and sponsored by State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), Senate Bill 1986 seeks to expand on the state’s 2017 sanctuary law.

The bill that currently sits in the Senate Assignments Committee is aimed at limiting assistance with immigration enforcement at courthouses, public schools, public colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, group homes,  public libraries  and facilities operated by the Office of the Secretary of State.

It also seeks to “ban state and local law enforcement officers from inquiring about anyone’s citizenship or immigration status or birthplace, even if they’re detained or arrested, unless provided with a judicial warrant or other court order and prevents any law enforcement agency from entering into agreements with federal immigration authorities to enforce civil immigration law.”

Villanueva is also sponsoring Senate Bill 225, which seeks to ban the Secretary of State, or issuer of driver’s licenses in Illinois, from enforcing federal immigration laws by sending the results of facial recognition to any government entity.

“Over the past several years, Illinois has already enacted radical immigration policies including a sanctuary law, granting driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens and offering landlord-tenant protections to illegal aliens,” FAIR's Bonovitch added.