(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker says a new law to protect people from federal immigration law enforcement in Illinois is a great one, despite ethical questions about campaign donations to the bill sponsors and private right of action, not to mention opponents of the new law that takes effect immediately protects and gives many benefits to those who are living in Illinois illegally, all at the statewide taxpayers’ expense. House Bill 1312 was originally filed on January 14th, earlier this year, as a bill to amend the State Commemorative Dates Act, regarding prisoners of war and missing in action, or POW/MIA Recognition Day, but the State Senate removed and replaced the language with the immigration and litigation-related provisions in the final hours of the fall veto session in October. The new law includes several measures, including one that prohibits the civil arrest of an illegal immigrant that’s in or around courthouses who are attending certain state court proceedings, another will amend an education law barring schools from taking certain actions regarding the immigration status of students, employees, or those associated with them, and another new act will prevent the unlawful release of protected health information and requires all general acute care hospitals to implement a policy regarding interactions with law enforcement agents when dealing with illegal immigrants by 2026.
(SPRINGFIELD) The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is calling on Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to honor ICE arrest detainers of what ICE says are “more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens in Illinois’custody.” The numbers include 51 homicides, 1,134 assaults, and 813 sexual predatory offenses, plus Illinois’ failure to honor detainers has resulted in the release of 1,768 criminal illegal aliens over the past 11 months. ICE officials say that the Illinois Attorney General’s office did not respond to a September letter asking for cooperation.
(SPRINGFIELD) The ballot for Illinois’ March 17th primary election next spring is coming into focus after yesterday’s State Board of Elections hearing. Governor Pritzker will be unopposed on the Democratic Party side after the Board voted to remove challenger Patricia Tillman due to a lack of signatures. In the state’s U.S. Senate race, there are 10 Democrats and 7 Republicans on the ballot for next spring’s primary election.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced the third official notice of funding opportunity through the Illinois National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which will provide approximately $65.6 million in public funds for the construction of electric charging stations across the state. Applications are due in by February 13th, 2026.