SR0404 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0404 LRB100 12340 MST 25039 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is in the interest of the State of Illinois to keep communities safe and to encourage crimes to be reported; and

WHEREAS, Through information gathered from law enforcement participation in programs like "Secure Communities", 62% of people targeted have committed no crime or a minor infraction with no serious threat to public safety or national security; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security has been arresting victims of and witnesses to crimes; and

WHEREAS, There has been a drop in the reporting of violent crimes in the wake of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting the victims and witnesses of crimes due to their immigration status; and

WHEREAS, The use of State resources for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law is voluntary; and

WHEREAS, Restrictions on spending State resources to enforce immigration law does not hinder the prosecution of those who break the law, whatever their immigration status; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security issues detainers without probable cause and does not allow for channels for individuals to challenge the detainers; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Homeland Security has issued detainers against U.S. citizens and long-term permanent residents; and

WHEREAS, These procedures violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, The federal government will not indemnify the State for costs and liabilities incurred as a result of enforcing federal immigration law; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is currently suffering through a budget crisis; and

WHEREAS, Undocumented immigrants contribute $758 million dollars in taxes to the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Six percent of Illinois family households include at least one undocumented immigrant; and

WHEREAS, 126,000 families with native born children have at least one undocumented parent; and

WHEREAS, The fear of deportation of family members leads children to fear attending school; and

WHEREAS, It is in the interest of the State of Illinois that children remain in school and receive the best education possible; and

WHEREAS, A policy that will encourage children to remain in school and residents to report criminal activity without fear of deportation is beneficial for the health and welfare of the State of Illinois and its residents; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the State of Illinois to cease expending State resources on enforcement of federal immigration law.