Chicago City Wire

Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) legislative advisor Tanner Bonovitch worries legislation now being considered by lawmakers in Springfield keeps the state on the wrong track when it comes to immigration.

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

Bonovitch said Senate Bill 1596 merely opens the door to more of the same. 

Sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Collins, the measure that passed the House back in April and now sits in the Rules Committee seeks to add citizenship and immigration status as grounds to enhance criminal charges as hate crimes.

Bonovitch has also voiced opposition to Senate Bill 1986. Sponsored by State Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) the measure, also known as the “Illinois Trust Act,” seeks to expand on the state’s 2017 sanctuary state law. At its core, it’s aimed at “limiting assistance with immigration enforcement and courthouses at public schools and public colleges; hospitals, emergency or urgent care facilities, nursing homes, and 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.”