Andrade Pushes Back on Trump’s ICE Raids

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is pushing back on the inhumane “Operation Midway Blitz” by backing legislation to prevent certain federal immigration
operations in designated areas including hospitals, daycares, courthouses and college campuses.

“In no way is it acceptable that we can have armed agents tackling seniors, kidnapping mothers on the way home from the store or pulling laborers into unmarked vans,” Andrade said. “This legislation gives the state real, effective tools for pushing back on these reckless, unconstitutional and outright inhumane raids perpetuated and authorized by the Trump Administration. This is not a static issue. We will keep conversations open as we develop comprehensive solutions that uphold the basic human dignity of every Illinoisan – regardless of their citizenship status.”

The Andrade-backed House Bill 1312 allows for a private right of action against agents who, in the process of conducting immigration enforcement, knowingly violate the Illinois Constitution. Potential factors in a case include: if an agent wore a mask, failed to reveal identity as an agent or used nonlethal chemical weapons.

Andrade’s legislation also establishes protections for those without citizenship who are at or near hospitals, courthouses and daycares. The legislation prevents federal immigration enforcement actions at the following locations:

– 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.
– Daycares: prohibits disclosing immigration information about children or families and requires policies and training to protect children if a parent faces immigration action.

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

For more information, visit ILGA.gov.