Congressman García and Senator Durbin Lead Illinois Delegation Letter Urging Trump Administration to End Unlawful Assault on State and Local Authority
CHICAGO — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led the Democratic Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. The letter affirms support for local laws that govern how police interact with immigrant communities in Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago, and urges the Trump administration to stop its unlawful attacks on these policies.
In their joint letter, the Members stated, “These state and local policies ensure Illinois’ law enforcement comply with the United States Constitution, and they direct local resources toward community safety, while allowing the federal government to focus on federal immigration enforcement. These policies are in accordance with the law, maintain local autonomy, boost local economies, focus law enforcement resources on serving local needs, and promote effective policing strategies that foster trust between police and the communities they serve.”
The Members emphasized that “[c]ourts around the country have upheld the legality of such provisions and barred the federal government from compelling localities to cooperate in immigration enforcement under threat of withholding federal grants,” highlighting a federal judge’s recent dismissal of the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago over these policies.
The letter was sent just two days after the Justice Department issued an updated list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which the Members noted was evidence of “the Trump Administration’s continuing efforts to undermine state and local law enforcement priorities.”
“We applaud Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago lawmakers for ensuring that their policies comply with the Constitution, prioritize public safety, and actively foster trust between the police and the communities they serve,” said the Members.
Cosigners of the letter include Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representatives Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Sean Casten (IL-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Bill Foster (IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Eric Sorensen (IL-17).
The letter can be read in its entirety here.
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