State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer has filed legislation to repeal the act that made Illinois a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants.
Davidsmeyer says the TRUST Act in 2017, which prohibits local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement and makes Illinois a sanctuary state needs to be repealed: “The reality is we need to get back to supporting our citizens and making sure they are taken care of before we make additional promises to other populations.”
According to information provided in a press release by Davidsmeyer’s office, there are approximately 628,000 undocumented immigrants in the state.
Davidsmeyer says the City of Chicago is currently facing a humanitarian and budget crisis due to immigrants being bussed from Texas and Florida. More than 18,500 have been transported to Chicago as the city is working to find housing for them. Davidsmeyer says the undocumented healthcare program is also costing the state: “You’ve got Democrats in Chicago saying, ‘Look. You are taking services away from the citizens that live here and have been paying taxes all along to provide for people that are here illegally.’ I think during debate for this year’s budget, I said on the floor, ‘You’re capping illegal immigrant healthcare at $550 million. It’s already at over $800 million.’ What are they going to do? They either have to pass a $300+ million supplement, so $300 million in additional spending or they will kick the can and make providers wait until next year to get paid. I said on the House floor that there is no way that this is going to happen and there is no way they are going to stop this.”
State Representative and House Republican Deputy leader Norine Hammond of Macomb echoed those sentiments in a press conference at the Capitol yesterday saying that the U.S. southern border could no longer be ignored, saying a supplemental budget to help the City of Chicago deal with the influx of immigrants will likely not be heard during the veto session.
Davidsmeyer is also launching an online petition drive in support of his legislation to repeal the TRUST Act. Supporters can sign the petition at CDDavidsmeyer.org.
Davidsmeyer’s bill, House Bill 4187 would repeal the act and allow local law enforcement to begin cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to begin the process of deportation of undocumented immigrants out of the country. The bill has already received 8 co-sponsors from fellow House Republicans.