By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a measure onto the House that would allow Illinois law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law only under certain circumstances.
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said his bill would allow local or state law enforcement to take immigration action only if there’s a criminal warrant or suspected criminal activity. Merely being suspected of violating federal immigration laws won’t allow for enforcement, under the measure.
Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said the legislation addresses concerns of some immigrants such as “things like forcing local law enforcement to become de facto customs immigration officers. That’s not what our local police are for. We want to make sure that divide is clear.”
State Sen. Iris Martinez, D-Chicago, said she knows people who worry they’ll be targeted by immigration enforcement.
“Many of the busy typical Saturday and Sundays where everybody is out, people are not out shopping because people are afraid,” Martinez said.
Sen. Chris Nybo, R-Lombard said there are still concerns among law enforcement.
“This is still the only situation that I can think of where we are directing one unit of government to not comply or cooperate with another unit of government,” Nybo said. “And I just think as a matter of principle, that is not the road we should be going down. I think it sets a dangerous precedent.”
State Senator Chapin Rose, R-Champaign, said Illinois has bigger problems to worry about than disobeying federal immigration law.
“There is no budget for the state of Illinois – people are getting hurt in this state, taxpayers are being hurt, everybody’s being hurt,” Rose explained. “And we’re worried about protecting illegal aliens that get arrested for sex crimes? Are you nuts?”
State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, said there could be a negative financial impact to Illinois if the law is passed.
“There is at least some possibility that passing this type of legislation would result in a significant loss of federal dollars to the state of Illinois,” Oberweis said.
