Hernandez Continues Fight Against Trump, Pushes to Create Immigrant Safe Zones

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, is fighting to protect immigrant communities across Illinois by limiting state-funded entities like schools and libraries from assisting federal deportation officers without a court order.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of community leaders and advocates from across the state, Illinois now has the strongest statewide protections for immigrants in the country,” Hernandez said. “This legislation is a necessary step to continue pushing back against Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and ensuring that families are able to go about their lives without the fear of being separated from their loved ones.”

Hernandez is a chief sponsor of Senate Bill 35, which would direct the Illinois attorney general to publish model policies for public entities to follow in order to limit their engagement with immigration agents, while still complying with state and federal law. Among other things, the Hernandez-backed proposal requires that policies must include protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, requirements for warrants based on probable cause and any other relevant constitutional protections. Under Hernandez’s bill, the following entities must implement the model policies or ones that are equivalent:

• State-funded schools, including licensed daycare centers and pre-schools;
• State-funded health care facilities, including but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes and group homes;
• Public libraries;
• Facilities operated by the secretary of state’s office; and
• Courts

“Nobody should every have to live with the fear of being harassed or treated unfairly by their own government,” Hernandez said. “In these difficult times, we must continue to put pressure on politicians like Bruce Rauner who say one thing publicly and do another when the cameras aren’t looking.”