Harper’s TRUST Act to Protect Immigrants from Unlawful Prosecution Becomes Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, to prevent undocumented immigrants with no criminal backgrounds from being detained by law enforcement and increase trust between communities and local law enforcement was recently signed into law.

“Our nation was established by immigrants from all over the world who wanted to have a chance to achieve the American dream, and this law will ensure that families can continue to come to Illinois to achieve that dream,” Harper said. “This law sends a clear message to the Trump administration and Washington politicians that Illinois is a leader in diversity, inclusion and acceptance.”

Harper supported Senate Bill 31, known as the Illinois TRUST Act, which sets reasonable limits on local law enforcement from engaging in the enforcement of federal immigration policies by:

• Barring local law enforcement from complying with an immigration detainer without a court-issued warrant;
• Prohibiting law enforcement from detaining or continuing to detain someone solely based on an immigration detainer or non-judicial warrant; and
• Prohibiting the stopping, searching, arresting, or detaining of an individual solely based on their citizenship or immigration status.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), immigrant communities are more likely to report crimes and cooperate with police if they trust their immigration status will not be made an issue. Communities with more welcoming policies also show lower crime rates as undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. Under Harper’s law, Illinois joins other states including California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal agents to protect immigrants from unlawful prosecution.

“Immigrants should not be afraid of being harassed by law enforcement on a daily basis,” Harper said. “This law allows immigrants and their families to live in peace and know that they will be protected each and every day.”