* The Illinois Business Immigration Coalition claimed last month that they were alarmed about how Gov. Rauner hadn’t yet signed the Illinois TRUST Act into law. The group got some folks stirred up, but at the time, groups involved with actually passing the bill and people who were involved with talks with the Rauner administration said things were still on track.
From the bill’s synopsis…
Prohibits law enforcement agencies and officials from detaining or continuing to detain an individual solely on the basis of an immigration detainer or non-judicial immigration warrant or from otherwise complying with an immigration detainer or non-judicial immigration warrant. Provides for law enforcement training on compliance with the Illinois TRUST Act.
* About a week and a half ago, groups were told by the governor’s office “We are a go” on the bill and preparations were being made to set up a signing ceremony. But then the governor went on the Fox News Channel last Friday and seemed to equivocate…
BAIER: So, you have this bill, SB31 on your desk. According to the Chicago Tribune, the bill would prohibit police from searching, arresting, or detaining a person because of their immigration status, absent a federal criminal warrant. It would also create so-called safe zones in state-funded schools, healthcare centers, secretary of state facilities and block state and local enforcement agencies from creating registries based on race, religion, and national origin. So are you going to sign that bill?
RAUNER: So, our staff is evaluating that bill right now. In fact, we are meeting with law enforcement agencies and law enforcement leaders in the state to get their views on it. We’re going to evaluate it and then we’ll make an announcement about how we’re going to deal with that.
BAIER: There are some families who say they’ve lost loved ones because of sanctuary status or policy and they’re trying to meet with you. Do you want to hear that point of view?
RAUNER: I want to hear everybody’s point of view. I work for everybody in the state of Illinois. Our immigration system is broken and we need to have a system that keeps the people of Illinois safe, the people of America safe. We’ve got to put that as the first priority.
The bill Baier described was the version before it was amended. Rauner’s staff was apparently finished evaluating the legislation, or it wouldn’t have given the go-ahead to set up a signing ceremony. And according to the Illinois Review, those families who’ve lost loved ones are bitterly complaining about not getting a meeting with Rauner.
And, as we’ve already discussed, the online right-wing reaction to Rauner’s Fox interview was devastatingly harsh against the governor for not taking a stand and not actually answering any questions.
* Combine all that together and now the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition is getting worried again…
Good Morning IBIC Steering Committee Members
Governor’s staff informed me that Governor Rauner has received aggressive calls and messages to veto the Trust Act in the last week. Fox News National also spread false information about the bill last Friday that further mobilized the opposition. August 28th is the last day for the Governor to sign the bill.
Can You Take 2 Actions for TRUST ACT SB 31?
1) Call the Governor - he is hearing from the opponents, he needs to hear from us
Springfield 217-782-0244
Chicago 312-814-2121
IF YOU HAVE HIS CELL, please call him on his personal phone
SUGGESTED SCRIPT: HELLO Governor Rauner, As a business owner in Illinois, I strongly encourage you to sign TRUST SB 31 into law. TRUST stabilizes the workforce, prevents unnecessary disruption to businesses, strengthens trust between immigrants and local police, and enables hardworking, law-abiding immigrants to continue to work, pay taxes, and create jobs here in Illinois. THANK YOU
2) Add your name to this letter to support the Governor signing TRUST into law AND clarify the false information spread by Fox News last Friday:
Dear Governor Rauner,
As we approach the August 28 signing deadline for the Trust Act SB 31 legislation, WE, the undersigned, employers and businesses strongly support and urge you to approve the TRUST ACT SB 31.
TRUST SB31 is a sensible policy that recognizes the work ethic, talent and entrepreneurship of our immigrant employees and advances the rule of law.
TRUST ensures workforce stability, prevents unnecessary disruption to businesses, strengthens trust between immigrants and local police, and enables hardworking, law-abiding immigrants to continue to work, pay taxes, and create jobs here in Illinois.
TRUST is COMPLIANT with federal statute 1373 because TRUST explicitly allows communication between ISP and local law enforcement with federal agents - see House Amendment #3.
TRUST respects our law enforcement’s ability to carry out law and order while ensuring that law abiding immigrants are able to work, pay taxes, AND cooperate with police to report and be witnesses to crime without fear - creating a safe environment for all.
There’s high rhetoric and there’s good, sensible policy. TRUST is a good policy to advance safety, economy, reduces unnecessary fear among immigrant families especially our immigrant children, reduces unnecessary disruption to our businesses that depend on the talent, hard work and entrepreneurship of our immigrants, and advances the rule of law.
If there is anything that we can do to ensure that TRUST is signed into law by August 28, please contact Rebecca Shi xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Thank you very much,
Your name
–
Rebecca Shi
Executive Director
Illinois Business Immigration Coalition
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:10 pm:
===Fox News National also spread false information about the bill last Friday that further mobilized the opposition===
That’s what they do. Time for Governor Rauner to take some arrows or he’ll soon be Governor Goner. And quite a few Republicans voted for it too. Would anyone be surprised if, instead of taking arrows, Governor Goner throws them under the bus? Anyone?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:14 pm:
“Yes, I’ll call, but what should I say?” Rebecca: “Just be yourself. Here’s the script”.
- Free Set of Steak Knives - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:17 pm:
I will put a $1 on “Send Sanguinetti to tell them we have to veto because of all the heat we are takin’ from Ann Coulter.” But we PROMISE we will do it next year.
Another example of why BTIA belongs back in the Bush Leagues. They knew or should have known that FOX was here to talk immigration. And given that, they shoulda said Governor wasn’t available.
Instead, they put him in front of a national reporter who-unlike folks in Illinois- had no qualms about calling Rauner a failure to his face.
Lemme paraphrase:
“You have lost every battle with Mike Madigan, how would a second term be different?”
Brutal, just brutal.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:19 pm:
I wonder if all of the noise from Jeff Sessions threatening to withhold federal funds from “sanctuary cities/states” has anything to do with it
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
The bill that passed doesn’t scream “sanctuary State” to me. It seems to basically say police can talk all they want with ICE, they just can’t hold someone unless they’re a criminal. I don’t see anything about “safe zones” or “registeries”. It doesn’t prevent ICE from doing anything. What am I missing?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:32 pm:
I thought it was strange when supporters put out a release a couple of weeks back claiming that the governor had committed, but no one from the administration was quoted.
Clearly, they were trying to force his hand. Doesn’t appear to have worked.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 3:47 pm:
It’s a broken governor’s office. With a broken legislative review system and broken messages. They’re all supporting a man with a broken moral system.
- Roman - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 4:16 pm:
This is a sticky wicket for the governor, perhaps more so than HB 40. A challenge from the “Trump Wing” of the party could be a real pain in the primary.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 5:00 pm:
Mr. “No social agenda” is seeing that governing is trickier than it appears to outsiders. Whether he’s learning anything remains to be seen.
- Freezeup - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 5:27 pm:
In more than 25 years of law enforcement that includes rural, urban and interstate patrol I have never seen an immigration detainer that was not accompanied by a criminal warrant.
When I have seen immigration detainers is when a person is charged with a fairly serious crime and ICE does not want them released on bond so they can disappear.
Much ado about nothing as far as I’m concerned.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 5:32 pm:
Actualy GovJunk did not equivocate he had that dumb “what me no nothing” look on his face about that bill
Factless Bruce
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 5:41 pm:
==Much ado about nothing as far as I’m concerned.==
Yes, but you’re making the mistake of basing your opinion on the actual bill, and not what Fox News says the bill does. Focus, sir, focus.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Aug 15, 17 @ 10:39 pm:
I’m actually wondering if Bruce knew what bill they were talking about? He kept deflecting like he wasn’t sure what the bill was, just kept saying we’re reviewing. If it’s really not a sanctuary state bill he could have talked intelligently about it and left it at that. If it is a sanctuary state bill then he should just say he’s going to veto the bill or do an amendatory veto to handle the issues he’s not comfortable with.
Leadership is difficult