SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois Democratic lawmakers are working with Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul to pass a plan this week addressing Operation Midway Blitz.
Sponsors told reporters Tuesday the state needs to protect Illinoisans from hostile law enforcement tactics in courthouses, hospitals and any other locations where all people should feel safe.
The Democrats stressed no person seeking care, justice, or childcare should ever be hunted down by ICE agents or border patrol officials.
"President Trump has shown us that he knows no legal bounds," said Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook). "It is now our responsibility to draw the line."
The majority party also hopes to expand the definition of law enforcement banned from cooperating with immigration officials and potentially ban law enforcement from wearing masks on the job.
Republicans have strongly opposed these ideas and told WAND News that federal agents are getting criminals off the street.
"If the borders hadn't been open, we wouldn't have 550,000 people here," said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna). "If Pritzker wouldn't be helping to pay and send millions of Illinois taxpayer dollars on sanctuary policies, we wouldn't have 550,000 people in our state."
Leader Lisa Hernandez (D-Chicago) said unjust and violent raids by federal officials exist to stoke fear in minority communities. The Illinois Democratic Party Chair said the Trump administration is trying to say immigrants do not belong in America.
"I say that they do. In Springfield, we are to affirm that all are welcome in Illinois. If Trump's White House won't uphold the American values etched in our Statue of Liberty, we will," Hernandez said. "We have no choice but to come back with some form of legislation to respond to these disgusting ways people are being treated, kidnapped, and taken away from their families."
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