On the heels of a report by the Associated Press that under the Illinois TRUST Act, inmates who are undocumented are not being turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation, people are taking notice. Instead of the deportation process starting, prisoners are being released into the communities where they served their time.
“The State of Illinois should not be in the business of helping felons bypass federal immigration laws," Amy Elik, a Republican is running against state Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) to represent Illinois’ 111th District, said in a statement. "It’s unacceptable that state law allows this and puts people in our communities across Illinois in danger.”
Bristow has remained silent on the issue, said Elik.
"Today, I’m calling on the Pritzker Administration and Rep. Bristow to reverse course and allow coordination between the Illinois Department of Corrections and local law enforcement agencies in the interest of public safety,” Elik's statement said.
The Associated Press noted that the practice of transferring individuals following their prison sentences to ICE for deportation violates state law. Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh, spokeswoman for Gov. J.B. Pritzker, said this was a “pause” in interactions with ICE while Pritzker’s staff reviews the policy and other procedures.
Law enforcement noted that after reviewing transfers to ICE by Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office in 2019, 36 individuals were guilty of sexual offenses against minors; 11 were guilty of murder, attempted murder, or intent to kill or injure; and 19 were found guilty of predatory criminal sexual assault.
Elik is a CPA and auditor and has served as a Foster Township Trustee, as is a former school board member at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Alton. She supports the Second Amendment and lives in Fosterburg with her husband and two children.
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