Hernandez Backs Effort to Protect Immigrant Tenants from Housing Intimidation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Committed to pushing back against the bigoted rhetoric of Donald Trump, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is supporting legislation that would establish state-level protections to ensure landlords are not able to threaten or evict tenants based on their immigration status.

“At a time when anti-immigrant rhetoric is at an all-time high, it is critical that we put in place protections to ensure everyone feels safe in their homes,” Hernandez said. “By prohibiting landlords from using someone’s perceived or actual immigration status as a scare tactic, we can ensure that parents and their children do not run the risk of losing their home.”

Hernandez is backing Senate Bill 1290, which creates the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act. The legislation would restrict the ability of a landlord to threaten, evict or punish a tenant based solely on their actual or perceived immigration or citizenship status. If a landlord violates the act, the tenant may bring a civil action to seek attorney’s fees, civil penalties up to $2,000 and damages for injury or loss.

“Donald Trump’s attacks on the immigrant community has spread hate toward the communities I represent,” Hernandez said. “This legislation is a necessary step toward ensuring safety for everyone, regardless of their citizenship status.”