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* From Senate President John Cullerton…
Illinois offered newfound security to immigrants on Monday, spelling out in a new law that state and local police shouldn’t double as immigration agents and encouraging immigrants to report crimes without fear of reprisals for their immigrant status.
The Trust Act (SB31) was sponsored by Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and ultimately won legislative approval and the support of law enforcement groups this spring session. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed his name to it on Monday, making it the law in Illinois. Cullerton applauded everyone involved in seeing this new law through.
“An immigrant woman who’s been victimized shouldn’t have to think twice about reporting that crime. She deserves justice as much as anyone else in our society. At the same time, police need her report to effectively track down violent criminals and protect all of us. This law reminds us that we’re all in this together and we need to be able to work together and trust one another,” said Cullerton.
Specifically, under the new law, state and local police cannot arrest or detain someone on the basis of immigration status alone. This prohibition does not apply if there is a valid judicial warrant. Similarly, state and local police are prohibited from arresting or detaining someone based on what’s known as an “immigration detainer,” which is a civil document issued by an immigration agent, not a criminal warrant issued by a judge and supported by probable cause.
Across the country, there have been news accounts of crimes going unreported in immigrant communities because victims fear they will end up arrested for lacking immigration documents if they report the crimes. The proposal Cullerton sponsored and the governor signed is designed to foster trust between police and immigrant communities and refocus resources on fighting priority crimes.
“The immigrant community has always been a vibrant part of our state’s story and a vital part of our economy today. Everyone deserves safety and security,” said Cullerton.
“If someone is going to be detained in Illinois it should be because an actual crime has occurred, not because of how they look, what they believe or what paperwork they may or may not have. The Trust Act reinforces the message that our immigrant neighbors are part of our community. It is my hope that this new law will enhance interaction between the immigrant community and state and local police to improve safety and the quality of life for all Illinoisans,” Cullerton said.
* Cullerton was a bit snarkier at the bill signing today…
Senator Cullerton "Signing events are a lot more fun than veto events. We should do this more often @GovRauner " #TRUSTact pic.twitter.com/6yYwiPoUkh
— Shannon Downey (@ShannonDowney) August 28, 2017
For a raging opinion in dissent that doesn’t actually address the contents of the legislation, click here. For raw audio of today’s bill signing event, click here.
More press release will be posted on our live coverage post.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 11:55 am
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Can’t wait to hear the reaction from IR and Rosanna Pulido.
Comment by anon2 Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 12:00 pm
Governor Pritzker just happened.
Comment by Saluki Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 12:02 pm
We need more bipartisan efforts like this. This is good government all around.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 12:20 pm
I wonder why Kyle McCarter doesn’t get anything done as a legislator. s/
Comment by Highland IL Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 12:26 pm
I am laughing hysterical because these last 4 days has seen Rauner sign off on several pieces of leg that position him as moderate/liberal. And yet, the coverage of him in the media does not reflect that at all. Certainly compared to the Rauner of a year ago.
It’s almost as if, dare I say, he’s having problems with his messaging.
Comment by Evanstonian Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 12:26 pm
The far left can cut the nonsense about how this isn’t a sanctuary law. Of course it’s a sanctuary law. It may not have all the crazy stuff the far left wanted (no doubt more is coming) but it has plenty.
You can’t say it’s not a sanctuary law when the advocates themselves are crowing that it makes Illinois “the gold standard for statewide protections against deportation.” That’s from their joint statement as it appeared on CapFax last week.
Comment by Chris P. Bacon Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 12:41 pm
If it is a “sanctuary law,” what does that say about Gov. Rauner?
Comment by anon2 Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:07 pm
Kass and McCarter aren’t so good with the math.
Trump got less than 39% in Illinois and lost to Clinton by nearly one million votes.
Trump voters have no place to go but Rauner; he needs Clinton voters to stay home.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:07 pm
I completely understand the crime aspect of the Trust Act. So be it the law, now.
The sad truth is, however, that there are very dirty employers, landlords, and others that pray upon this class of people in very oppressive ways.
They are celebrating this, too.
Comment by cdog Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:08 pm
I don’t care what you call it, it’s good policy. It’s not the job of the state and local police, nor should it be, to enforce immigration laws. That’s up to the feds.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:09 pm
Yes I agree Senator Cullerton.
It would be great if the House would pass your bipartisan pension reform bill.
The Governor will sign that for sure.
Why won’t the Speaker allow a vote on it? He agrees the pensions are unsustainable but will not act.
Maybe you could put some pressure on the House and call them out instead of directing your snarkiness at just Republicans
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:14 pm
===Why won’t the Speaker allow a vote on it? He agrees the pensions are unsustainable but will not act?===
Why won’t Rauner put 71 or 60 legislators on the stairs to embarrass Speaker Madigan and flat out prove the Speaker is holding a passable bill?
lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:19 pm
Care to stay on topic LP? Or are you just trolling around with your usual talking points?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:19 pm
Agree with Demoralized- this IS good policy. It does not change what state and local police have been doing. It doesn’t hamper law enforcement in any way I can see.
And for once, I am pleased about “symbolic” legislation. I want them to know we will not cart them off because of their citizenship. I want all witnesses to report what they see. I want them to report suspicious activity. I want them to fully describe crimes they see. It will help cops find the truth. It will help catch the bad actors. And that’s what law enforcement is about.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:23 pm
That was me at 1:23.
Comment by Freezeup Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:24 pm
Let’s stop saying that Rauner lost his base over this or other right wing causes. He didn’t win last time because of the far right base. He won because Quinn was seen as inept. Quinn was at best not loved by unions. He also agreed to a big tax hike that he pushed for.
Rauner relied on moderates and Independents and did very very good ( for a Republican) in Chicago and Suburban Cook. If he can get close to those numbers again he might be ok. Remember his new found friend Proft and the IPI were at best luke warm supporters.
Comment by Old Timer Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:28 pm
Why is there a portrait of a young Walt Disney wearing a sombrero above and to the left of Sen. Cullerton?
Comment by West Side the Best Side Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:35 pm
The topic is Senator Cullerton wishing he could go to more signing ceremonies.
I assume he would like to go to a signing ceremony for his pension bill or he would not have passed it through the Senate.
He is partisan in his remarks in not calling out the House for the reason there has not been a lot of signing ceremonies.
Trolling off topic? I don’t think so
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:38 pm
==He is partisan==
lol. And you are what exactly?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 1:54 pm
It’s amazing how many liberals celebrating this are now adopting the nullification doctrine of John C. Calhoun. Rauner’s spin meisters keep claiming this isn’t a sanctuary law but it in fact requires local law enforcement to ignore administrative requests by federal agencies to hold illegal immigrants in their jails. It’s advocating the primacy of state law in an area that according to the Supreme Court belongs to the Feds.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:10 pm
Republicans are a funny bunch. If you don’t do enough to hurt immigrants, minorities, other groups of people, or bust Unions they get angry. It’s always about hurting other people with the republican voter.
Comment by Real Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:15 pm
DI, what federal laws are being “nullified” by this legislation?
It’s amazing how a “conservative” such as yourself is happy to hold people in jail without charge, warrant or due process of law based on federal agency “requests.”
You understand, I hope, people accused of being in the country illegally are entitled to due process under the law. An accusation by the federales doesn’t cut it.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:21 pm
==belongs to the Feds==
That’s the point. It’s not the job of state and local governments to be the immigration police.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 2:33 pm
Today, Gov. Rauner lost thousands of primary votes.
Comment by Conservative Veteran Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 4:21 pm
===Today, Gov. Rauner lost thousands of primary votes.===
… but will win the Primary anyway…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 4:23 pm
I’m not finding my coworkers quietly supporting this. This is going to be another one of those issues voters will quietly rebel against in order to avoid being denounced as something horrible.
There is a public face, and an opposite one in the voting booth on this.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 5:56 pm
As we try and pass a school funding bill, how many millions of dollars do illegal immigrants take, in Illinois state benefits, that we the tax payers are forced to pay?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 28, 17 @ 6:22 pm