With public safety a top priority, Illinois Senate Republicans unveiled new legislation during the week that would close critical gaps in state immigration policies, which currently allow undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes to remain in Illinois.
Senate Bill 1313, sponsored by Senator Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia), requires state law enforcement to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify, report, and deport undocumented individuals who commit serious offenses—such as violent crimes, drug offenses, and sex crimes—ensuring their removal from Illinois to enhance public safety.
Republicans say the legislation exposes a glaring contradiction in Governor J.B. Pritzker’s stance on public safety. Despite his public claim that “violent criminals who are undocumented and convicted of violent crime should be deported,” the TRUST Act he supports ties the hands of law enforcement, preventing them from working with federal authorities to deport most offenders. Republicans argue this hypocrisy endangers public safety and leaves Illinois families vulnerable to dangerous repeat offenders.
Senate Republicans are also pushing to repeal the TRUST Act, which restricts state and local police from cooperating with federal immigration officials except under narrow circumstances, like when a federal warrant is issued.
State Senator Sue Rezin says that by removing these restrictions and enhancing coordination with ICE, Republicans believe law enforcement will be better equipped to remove undocumented felons and improve public safety.
Senate Republicans urge Governor JB Pritzker and Democrat lawmakers to support these measures to prevent violent criminals from staying in Illinois.