This week, Illinois Republican Governor Bruce Rauner celebrated his signing of a bill that turned Illinois into a sanctuary state. Now a group of Republican lawmakers filed a new bill to reverse that law.
Touting the measure as “bipartisan,” Rauner signed SB 31 into law on August 28. The new law, dubbed the “Trust Act,” forces the state’s law enforcement officers to refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials seeking to enforce immigration laws.
The “Trust Act” essentially makes it impossible for police to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they have a suspected criminal illegal alien in custody, thereby increasing the possibility that they will be freed back into the general population.
Despite the fact that Rauner touted the bill as “bipartisan,” in truth only six Republicans voted to pass the measure. Five Illinois Republican Senators — some of whom previously announced their retirement — and a single Republican House member voted “yea” on SB 31, meaning it wasn’t really very bipartisan at all.
Now, six Republicans have banded together to pass a bill to countermand the “Trust Act.”
Republican State Representatives John Cabello (R-Rockford) and David McSweeney (R-Barrington) filed a bill this week that would repeal the “Trust Act,” Illinois Review reported on Thursday.
“I swore to uphold the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions when I became a legislator,” Rep. Cabello told the site. “As a member of law enforcement, I took a vow to uphold the law. I believe and trust in those oaths, and intend to do all I can to keep them.”
In less than 24 hours, the new bill picked up the support of Republican Reps. C.J. Davidsmeyer and David Reis. And two GOP Senators filed an identical bill in the state Senate.
The list of Republicans that figured in as Rauner’s “bipartisan” GOP contingent included Republican House member Bob Pritchard, and Senators Althoff, McConchie, McConnaughay, Nybo, and Radogno. Both McConchie and Radogno announced they did not intend to seek re-election and were retiring from state politics.
Rauner signed SB31 ahead of what promises to be a tough re-election campaign. Many accuse the Gov. of pandering for votes from the state’s growing Hispanic population.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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