Delgado Passes Law Promoting Accountability in Civil Immigration Enforcement, Denounces ‘Midway Blitz’

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

“Across our district, families are living under constant stress and fear directly caused by the Trump Administration’s ‘Midway Blitz,’” Delgado said. “We’ve had to face a gassing near a school, children being separated from their parents and people being taken without due process. All of this is inexcusable, and people, no matter their immigration status, deserve to live without fear.”

Delgado 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 Constitution. Potential factors in a case include: if an agent wore a mask, failed to reveal their identity as an agent or used nonlethal chemical weapons.

The Delgado-backed 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 civil immigration 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 universities from disclosing citizenship information, requires staff to be trained on verifying immigration warrants and helps students access immigrant rights resources.

“No matter where a person comes from, they deserve to feel safe and respected here in Illinois,” Delgado said. “This legislation, and the steps we’ll take moving forward, prove that Illinois is for everyone, not just the people that the Trump Administration wants here.”

For more information, please contact evadina@staterepdelgado.com.