* Illinois News Network…
It’s now law for police in Illinois to certify in a timely manner complaints of abuse or assault filed by illegal immigrants, who can then use such reports in working toward certain citizenship visas.
Gov. Bruce Rauner had vetoed Senate Bill 34, the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors, or VOICES, Act. The Senate passed it over his veto earlier this month. On Wednesday, the House did the same.
State Rep. Litesa Wallace, D-Rockford, who supported the measure, said it will protect immigrants who are crime victims, regardless of how they entered the country.
“This is not an automatic pathway to citizenship, but what it is is empowering individuals in our community who may be undocumented to come forth and talk about crimes that have happened which only moves or serves to make the rest of us, all of us, safer because we’re able to address the crimes these individuals are victims of,” Wallace said.
Illinois State Police said the measure could cost an extra $425,000 for additional staff to process requests within 90 days. There’s also the potential for more lawsuits against state police, the agency said in a fiscal note. It’s unclear how much it could cost local police agencies.
State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, said he was concerned that an illegal immigrant could potentially get special visa priority for merely reporting a crime.
“Merely.”
* Illinois Public Radio…
The measure requires Illinois law enforcement to submit the proper paperwork to the feds within 90 days. Whether or not an immigrant crime victim ultimately gets a visa will still be up to those authorities. […]
“It has been layers of difficulty to try to place the protections on people, everyday people, that deserve it,” [Rep. Lisa Hernandez. D-Cicero] said of the legislative effort.
* Tribune…
Rauner vetoed the proposal in August in southern Illinois, as he tried to get rural conservatives who back President Donald Trump behind his re-election.
“That ties the hands of law enforcement,” Rauner said at the time. “It can delay deportations that should otherwise occur.”
* JB Pritzker…
“I applaud the House and Senate for overriding the veto of SB 34 and standing up for immigrant families across the state,” said Governor-elect JB Pritzker. “The VOICES Act is critical legislation that protects immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking and other crimes, and I’m proud to see it enacted into law. Illinois is a welcoming state, and I look forward to serving our 1.8 million immigrant residents as your governor.”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 9:40 am:
These veto overrides, to me, have the flavor of many, many folks settling “old family business” now that the Don (Rauner) is gone.
It started with this fiscal year budget.
Rauner coulda vetoed, but it coulda been easily overridden, given the bipartisan passage votes… and it continues with these overrides, “enough is enough” as the mantra.
It pleases me to see governing happening, settling family business type of votes to move forward.
I’m optimistic.
- Saluki - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 9:42 am:
Good to see the continued comparison of Illinois government with the mafia continues to have traction.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 9:52 am:
===Good to see the continued comparison of Illinois government with the mafia continues to have traction.==
Welp, Rauner was Santino, a hot head, who wanted war, wartime consiglieres and the family suffered.
Now, maybe, with Santino no longer leading The Family, the business of governing can happen…
- don the legend - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:20 am:
I recall Rauner and his Raunerites mentioning a time or two that the Speaker was the equivalent of a mob boss. Only they meant it.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:33 am:
=Good to see the continued comparison of Illinois government with the mafia continues to have traction.=
As @don the legend said, the mob boss thing was cool for Rauner and co. but I guess the Raunerites can’t handle it?
Maybe the Raunerites lost because they are so thin skinned?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:58 am:
==Illinois State Police said the measure could cost an extra $425,000 for additional staff to process requests within 90 days.==
Well, yes, fighting crime is expensive. There will be more bad guys in jail and that costs money too.
- anon2 - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:44 pm:
I don’t usually agree with Rep. Skillicorn, but he may have a point. This law provides an incentive for someone without legal status to file a domestic violence accusation. In other words, there’s a tangible benefit to making such an accusation. Whether the accused is eventually acquitted doesn’t matter.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:55 pm:
Allen Skillicorn’s next task is to get ‘No immagrants or people of color allowed’ on East Dundee welcome signs.
- Albany Park Patriot - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:06 pm:
This law is a total no-brainer for anyone but the most dug-in anti-immigrant extremists. It’s just common sense that you want ANY victim of crime to want to come forward, for the safety of all our community. If my neighbor’s house is on fire I want him to report it instead of worrying that he’s going to get hauled away. There’s a communal good here that is undeniable. People who hate immigrants claim to be for law and order. They always forget about the “order” part, along with so much else.
- Maestro - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
Now that Rauner is gone, moderate Republicans are free to vote as they see fit on a lot of issues.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:48 pm:
Real brain-teaser. You want people to report crimes to help the cops protect the community and your own loved ones.
Unless, for your own reasons, you’re into open season on those may or may not be guilty of civil misdemeanors.