Ortíz Champions Measure Protecting Undocumented Communities Against Growing Immigration Raids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Aarón Ortíz, D-Chicago, is pushing back on the inhumane “Operation Midway Blitz” by backing legislation to prevent certain federal immigration operations at or near courthouses and add safeguards for undocumented people at hospitals, daycares and on college campuses.

During consideration on the House floor, Ortiz personally spoke to the importance of protecting students on campuses.

“Far too many young students work their entire lives to get the shot at a college education, for it to be ripped from them because of their status," Ortíz said. "Too many students don’t just check the bus schedule in the morning — they check group chats to see if there were raids near campus. When we allow masked, heavily-armed agents to storm campuses and take anyone they wish, we do not live in a country of laws – but outlaws. Our legislation declares, in no uncertain terms, that campuses, daycares, hospitals and courthouses are not open to wanton, warrantless and reckless immigration raids.”

Ortíz supported House Bill 1312 which allows for a private right of action against agents who, in the process of conducting immigration enforcement, knowingly violate the Illinois and U.S. Constitutions. Considering factors in a case could include if an agent wore a mask, failed to reveal identity as an agent or used nonlethal chemical weapons. The Ortíz-backed legislation also establishes protections for those without citizenship, including at:

• Courthouses: prohibits civil immigration arrests at or near courthouses and provides civil penalties for violations and attorney fee recovery.
• Hospitals: requires hospitals to create formal policies for handling law-enforcement interactions, bars cooperation with immigration enforcement unless there is a judicial warrant and protects patient immigration-related information.

Additionally, the legislation establishes protections for Illinois college students in the midst of growing immigration raids in the state. It specifically bars universities from disclosing citizenship information, requires staff to be trained on verifying immigration warrants and helps students access immigrant rights resources.

“I represent students who wake up scared, not because they did anything wrong, but because they’re brown and live in a country where federal agents think they can turn schools into hunting grounds,” Ortíz said. “In no world is this acceptable, and I am making sure Springfield is moving swiftly and boldly to protect Illinoisans in the classroom and everywhere.”