Latino Caucus Responds to Illegitimate Lawsuit Attempting to Erode Civil Rights of Immigrants

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement in response to the illegitimate lawsuit by four county sheriffs who are defending the extrajudicial detention of immigrants that allows some of these interests to benefit from lucrative contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

“We are deeply disappointed that some of those tasked with enforcing our laws think that they can pick and choose who has constitutional rights. Time and time again in our country, communities of color have had to fight tooth and nail for the chance to be treated with the same dignity and respect under the law as their neighbors.

“We find it curious that some of the very interests who benefit financially from the unconstitutional detention of immigrants are bringing forth an illegitimate lawsuit based on a gross distortion of the law and cloaked with racially charged language.

 “The Illinois Trust Act is a bipartisan effort that ensures our state does not violate the constitutional rights of its people. In what world do these law enforcement officials think it is just to incarcerate someone without probable cause? And in what world do these officials think it is just to continue the incarceration of a person after they have served their time?

“We have faith that Attorney General Raoul will put an end to this racist fearmongering by enforcing the laws that ensure every resident in our state is afforded the civil rights they deserve. And we look forward to continuing to work with Gov. Pritzker to empower law enforcement to develop meaningful, positive relationships with the communities they serve.”