By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ attorney general is asking the courts to rule that a controversial Illinois law about immigration policies complies with federal law.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, saying the DOJ is improperly withholding $6.5 million in law enforcement grants from Illinois.
“Byrne JAG funds allow Illinois law enforcement officers to respond to pressing community needs using data-driven, results-oriented techniques,” Madigan said. “They promote partnerships between federal, State, and local agencies to address shared enforcement responsibilities.”
“DOJ is withholding funding for these critical programs as punishment for Illinois’ policies that encourage cooperation between law enforcement and immigrant communities,” a statement from Madigan’s office said.
Republican state Representative Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, said the TRUST Act passed mainly by Democrats and enacted by Governor Bruce Rauner last year is not in bounds.
The measure requires a criminal warrant to be issued for local or state law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement officials.
“Deportation is going to be a civil procedure and there is not warrant issued by a judge for that, so effectively this is trying to stand in between the process of actually deporting people and law enforcement,” Skillicorn said.
Skillicorn says prohibiting law enforcement from working to address illegal immigration is what makes Illinois less safe.
“(The TRUST Act is) not good for Illinois’ safety,” Skillicorn said. “And there’s already been examples where Illinois citizens who have been hurt by people who are willfully breaking the law and there is no recourse now and we cannot enforce the law and justice is not served.”
Madigan claims the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently declared the DOJ’s position of withholding such grants because of local or state immigration measures is unlawful.
“So-called ‘sanctuary’ policies make all of us less safe because they intentionally undermine our laws and protect illegal aliens who have committed crimes,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement last year. “These policies … encourage illegal immigration and even human trafficking by perpetuating the lie that in certain cities, illegal aliens can live outside the law.”
