Illinois Reinforces Status as Most Welcoming in the Nation, Delivers Comprehensive Reform to FOID System
AURORA, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch applauded Governor JB Pritzker signing two significant pieces of legislation into law this week. The first, strengthens the Illinois TRUST Act, an initiative championed by Welch in 2017. This measure made Illinois the gold standard for statewide protections against deportation, and this new law expands those protections for immigrant and refugee communities.
"We are talking about people who are just like each and every one of us, living their daily lives simply seeking to love and support themselves and their families,” said Welch. “Immigrants all across this country have suffered almost unimaginably these last few years. This has to end, and it ends when states like Illinois lead the way."
The measure provides clarity around action that law enforcement officials can and cannot take around warrants, it places limitations on local enforcement of discriminatory practices from inquiring about citizenship or immigration status unless there’s a federal criminal warrant, and it also authorizes the Attorney General to conduct investigations into violations of the Illinois TRUST Act.
“For years, immigration and customs enforcement agencies have relied on local law enforcement to target people who pose no threat to public safety, which just drives fear in immigrant and Latino communities and breaks the trust between people and law enforcement,” said Leader Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), who spearheaded this effort. “By adding additional teeth to the Trust Act, we are taking steps to make sure our families aren’t afraid to take their children to school, seek medical attention, attend court hearings, utilize public services or seek police protection.”
The governor also signed legislation that provides substantial and comprehensive reform to our state’s firearm laws for the first time in decades. The new law will expand background checks on all gun sales, including private sales, it properly funds the Illinois State Police’s ability to enforce the surrender of firearms from people who have lost their license for ownership, and it creates a stolen gun database that ISP will continuously monitor. In addition to these changes, the new law also streamlines the FOID card system by allowing ISP to create electronic records and combine FOID and concealed carry licenses. There is also the option to automatically renew FOID cards for responsible gun owners who opt into a finger printing process.
“This is the type of lasting change the people of our state need and deserve,” said Welch. “With this bill we are giving our state police additional money and resources to ensure law abiding citizens can exercise their second amendment rights, while also equipping our officers with the tools to keep them out of the hands of individuals who present a danger to themselves or others.”