Limiting ICE presence top priority for some Illinois lawmakers as they return for veto session

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — More than 100 community leaders rallied at the State Capitol on Tuesday, demanding protections from federal agents.

Lawmakers are back in Springfield for their veto session and immigration policies are quickly taking center stage during the legislature’s October session.

“The federal government has made it abundantly clear that they are here too, looking to push for the boundaries of these unlawful operations but terrorize our communities,” said one advocate during Tuesday’s press conference.

The advocates, community leaders and lawmakers who gathered in the rotunda Tuesday afternoon were supporting different bills, but all shared one goal: limit federal immigration enforcement that they argue violates Illinoisans constitutional rights. They are hoping to do that by limiting where those agents can be.

A new package of bills is looking to keep ICE agents out of healthcare and early learning facilities as well as courthouses.

Rep. Norma Hernandez said if agents are around, people won’t access critical services.

“We’ve seen people being taken away, while they are doing what they’re supposed to do the right way, follow the proper procedures. Being taken away, violently as well, and being torn apart of their families. And that creates a safety hazard because people need to go to court for many reasons,” Hernandez said.

Supporters of Operation Midway Blitz argue that agents are just enforcing federal law. DHS says it has arrested more than 1500 individuals since the operation began.

But it’s not just locations seeing limitations. The final bill in the package HB 2706 would re-work the Illinois TRUST Act. The law already prevents local and state police from conducting immigration enforcement. But advocates said new tactics being used by federal agents require a new look at the law.

They want to make sure that local police have no part, even as support, during immigration operations. 

Representative Hernandez said she knows it will be a challenge to gather the 71 votes needed to pass any part of this package. But with it being their last chance to pass any legislation before January, she said lawmakers must act now to protect Illinois communities