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Pritzker on Texas remap, Stratton not being slated, whether state should opt in to new federal tax credit for private schools (Updated)

Tuesday, Jul 22, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Gov. Pritzker was asked today whether Illinois should redraw its congressional districts now that Texas is planning to redraw its own districts to reduce the number of Democratic congresscritters…

We have to see what they decide to do about Texas. But I think that the President of the United States encouraging Texas, Texas being willing to do this, should be an indicator to the rest of us that that if they’re going to cheat, that that’s not a proper way to act.

We’re all going to have to band together to try to address that, at least to try to stop them, by letting them know that if we were doing what they were doing, that in fact, we would counterbalance, indeed take control of the Congress.

I think we ought to play by the rules. Everybody. And I think we ought to have an election in 2026, we’ll see who comes out ahead in the Congress. But I think cheating the way the President wants to is improper. We all ought to stand up against it. People ought to be outraged.

Please pardon all transcription errors.

…Adding… Leader McCombie…

In response to Governor JB Pritzker’s comments today regarding potential mid-decade redistricting, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement:

“It’s rich that the Governor now claims to support playing by the rules—after he enthusiastically signed into law the most gerrymandered maps in the nation. When it was convenient, he promised to reject partisan maps in favor of fair representation. Illinois Republicans remain committed to fairness and transparency.”

* He was also asked about the Cook County Democratic Party deciding not to slate anyone for US Senate, even though the lt. governor is one of the candidates…

Look, it’s rare. They have three, you know, reasonably well known candidates who are running for a big office like United States Senate, I think the Cook County Democratic Party rightly recognized that there are these are all significant players, all three of them. So I mean, personally, I understand why they ended up where they are. I know that Juliana Stratton was the leader among the three of them. But when you don’t get the endorsement, you don’t get the endorsement. So, but from my perspective, she has support from all across the state and all across Cook County. So I feel confident on her behalf that she’ll do well in the primary.

* Pritzker was also asked if the state would opt into a new federal tax credit for private school students…

We’ve got to look at [that]. Remember, Donald Trump is trying to take away funding from public schools, right? He has shut down funding to the states for public schools, and we’ve had to sue to try to get back. So this idea that he’s for education, and that’s why he pushed having this provision in the bill is just false narrative. So we’re going to have to look at whether or not we can implement a program that will be good for all students and all families that have students in school, and not just a program that’s about private schools, sometimes religious schools, and sometimes schools that would reject having an LGBTQ member as a teacher, whether we should be supporting a program that just does that, when, in fact, the federal administration is taking away money from people who can’t afford to go to a… private school, who would like to go to a public school that’s a quality school, but they’re having their funding taken away. That doesn’t seem fair to me.

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It’s just a resolution: Chicago leaders call on Springfield to ban masks, require identification for ICE agents (Updated)

Tuesday, Jul 22, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Hill…

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting Director Todd Lyons said agents can continue to use masks in the field, even as the agency has increasingly come under fire for moves that limit identification of its personnel. […]

“I’ve said it publicly before, I’m not a proponent of the masks. However, if that’s a tool that the men and women of ICE to keep themselves and their family safe, then I will allow it,” he said. […]

Masked, plainclothes officers have also been conducting arrests at immigration courthouses. ICE attorneys will move to dismiss a case, a practice that most migrants interpret as the agency dropping efforts to deport them but opens the agency to then arrest them and place them in expedited removal proceedings that largely receive no court review.

Lyons disputed that agents are not identifiable, saying they should be wearing clothing with some kind of ICE insignia.

* NBC Chicago…

During a controversial ICE action in Chicago earlier this year, federal agents wearing facemasks could be seen in the South Loop taking undocumented people into custody. Many of the agents wore civilian clothing, with no name tags or badges.

* Block Club Chicago today…

Alds. Michael Rodriguez (22nd) and Andre Vazquez (40th) on Wednesday introduced a resolution to the City Council that calls on state legislators to pass laws banning federal agents who are conducting arrests from wearing masks.

Lawmakers should also pass legislation that would require federal agents to wear appropriate uniforms and identify themselves, according to the proposed resolution, which was co-sponsored by Mayor Brandon Johnson and 18 alderpeople. […]

With the resolution, which is not legally binding, city leaders join a growing number of state, local and national officials pushing for legislation banning mask-wearing among federal agents and requiring immigration agents to identify themselves.

The proposed resolution was referred to the city’s rules committee, where legislation is often sent to die.

* The Gothamist…

New York lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would ban law enforcement officers — including federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — from wearing masks. […]

That’s a major constitutional question raised by the bill, according to Jessica Bulman-Pozen, a constitutional law professor at Columbia Law School. She said that if the measure advanced, it was likely to face a legal challenge.

She also said there’s a “strong case” that the state should be able to enact the bill, if it becomes law, since it affects all law enforcement officers and doesn’t single out federal officers.

[State Assemblymember Tony Simone, the bill’s sponsor] said he’s been in touch with constitutional lawyers who say the bill is legally sound.

…Adding… Rep. Patrick Sheehan…

State Representative Patrick Sheehan has introduced House Resolution 428 to affirm his support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to call attention to the growing threats faced by ICE officers.

“Many ICE officers and their families are being harassed and assaulted which is horrific and unacceptable,” Rep. Sheehan said. “They wear masks, sunglasses, and hats in the field to avoid being targeted at home by dangerous individuals. As a police officer, I know this is a common practice used by tactical and undercover officers during dangerous encounters. These officers and their families deserve to be protected from malicious intent.”

HR0428 outlines the crucial role ICE plays in upholding national security and federal immigration law, noting its collaboration with law enforcement agencies across Illinois. The resolution raises serious concerns about provisions in the Illinois TRUST Act, which prevent local authorities from assisting ICE in their duties, potentially undermining enforcement efforts and exposing officers to increased danger.

ICE officers have faced a sharp rise in assaults during enforcement operations, a reported 830% increase, alongside a troubling trend of personal information being published online with malicious intent. HR0428 recognizes the need to protect ICE officers from doxxing and harassment both on and off duty.

“I filed this resolution to make it clear that protecting public safety includes protecting those who enforce the law,” said Rep. Sheehan. “Our federal officers deserve respect for their service.”

Thoughts?

* More…

Press Release | Attorney General Raoul Joins Coalition Urging Congress To Pass Legislation To Curb Unscrupulous ICE Tactics:

* The Tribune | ‘We’re tired of this’: Cicero residents demand action from town president after Latina aunt stopped by federal agents: Vanessa Mendoza, an early childhood educator in Cicero, was gathering materials for her classroom in late June when she paused to look at Facebook. What she saw shocked her. Posted on the social media site was a video of her aunt, Rocío, being pulled over by unidentified agents driving black vehicles who questioned her citizenship — despite her legal status to be in the United States. The agents did not specify why they pulled Rocío over or which agency they were affiliated with, Mendoza, 32, who grew up in Cicero, said at a news conference outside the town hall Thursday morning. After Rocío showed identification, she was not arrested or detained, her niece added.

* WaPo | ICE chief stands by mask use in immigration raids, despite criticism: On Sunday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) voiced her objections to the practice in a television interview, saying: “These masked men pull up in unmarked cars and jump out of the cars with rifles and detain people. So, for the average citizen, it looks like it’s a violent kidnapping.” Protests in Los Angeles over the immigration raids prompted the unprecedented deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to the city in June.

* Axios | ICE arrests of noncriminals spike in Illinois: In January, ICE arrested 160 people in Illinois, of whom 31% had no criminal charge, an Axios analysis found. By June, 61% of the 333 people ICE arrested in the state had no criminal charge.

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