Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) and Angel Father Joe Abraham, joined together to call on the General Assembly to pass SB4196 to allow law enforcement to coordinate with federal immigration officials on non-citizens who have committed crimes in the United States.
“Right now, Illinois law limits how local law enforcement can work with federal authorities, creating confusion and dangerous gaps that put public safety at risk,” Rose said. “My bill is straightforward. If there is a valid, enforceable federal warrant, law enforcement should be able to act, communicate, and coordinate. We should trust our officers to do their jobs and give them the tools they need to protect our communities.”
The legislation would amend the Illinois TRUST Act to allow Illinois law enforcement agencies to coordinate with federal immigration officials when presented with a valid, enforceable federal warrant. The bill also removes restrictions that currently limit communication, information sharing, and coordination between local and federal authorities.
Senate Bill 4196 would:
- Clarify that prohibitions on enforcing federal civil immigration laws do not apply when law enforcement is presented with a valid, enforceable federal warrant.
- Allow communication and coordination between federal agencies and local law enforcement officials.
- Remove current prohibitions against agreements to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations.
- Repeal restrictions that prevent information sharing and cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- Repeal the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act, allowing immigration enforcement officials to apprehend criminal offenders held in county jails and near courthouses.
Rose said the legislation restores common-sense coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement while focusing specifically on individuals who are in the country illegally and committing crimes.
Joe Abraham, whose daughter Katie was killed earlier this year in a crash in Urbana involving an individual who was in the country illegally, said he hopes lawmakers will act to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
“No family should ever have to experience this kind of loss,” Abraham said. “If speaking out can help prevent even one family from going through this pain, then it’s worth it. Public safety should come first, and law enforcement agencies should be able to work together to stop dangerous criminals before more innocent lives are lost.”
Rose said Illinois policy should match the Governor’s public statements supporting the removal of dangerous offenders.
“You cannot claim to support public safety while also maintaining policies that make it harder for law enforcement to cooperate and remove dangerous criminals,” Rose said. “The question is simple: are they going to fix this problem, or are they going to continue ignoring it? Because if they refuse to act, more Illinois families will pay the price.”
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