By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A leader of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Illinois chapter is urging the Bloomington City Council to declare the city a welcoming place for undocumented immigrants even though they’re protected by a state law.

Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed The Trust Act, angering some conservatives, led by GOP primary challenger Jeanne Ives, who said Rauner made Illinois a sanctuary state.

The law prohibits local police from questioning undocumented immigrants about their status, and officers can’t hold them without a warrant.

Ed Yohnka, public policy and communications director for the state ACLU chapter, said it’s important for communities like Bloomington to publicly proclaim their values.

“It’s a different thing to have a governor sitting somewhere way off sign a bill which then creates something for the local community, as opposed to the local community declaring that these are our values, that this is what we want,” said Yohnka.

Aldermen seemed persuaded by Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner, who said prohibiting local officers from communicating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would handcuff his department and threaten public safety.

Speaking with WJBC’s Sam Wood, Yohnka said local officers’ jobs would be easier because people would be less fearful of being deported, and more likely to help police solve crimes.

He added communities like Bloomington also need to show they’re not bullied by Trump Administration threats to cut federal aid.

“Communities aren’t going to listen to this kind of bullying, that they’re going to stand up to it, and they’re going to have the kind of community they want, and not the kind of community of fear, and division, and anger that the Trump Administration seems to want to encourage,” Yohnka also said.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].