Editor’s note: This article first appeared in our sister bilingual publication, Tribuno del Pueblo. Collective resistance has been living proof that when communities come together, change follows. Illinois has been a state that has fearlessly fought back against the authoritarian Trump administration that has been terrorizing the streets of Chicago since September. Pepper balls and tear gas have been used against protestors defending immigrant rights, a priest, in a Halloween children’s parade, and as a scare tactic in general. This excessive force led Border Chief Gregory Bovino to report to court daily with US District Judge Sara Ellis for updates on his ‘Midway Blitz’ operation and to see if he was following the law. However, an appeals court ruled in favor of the Trump administration. The ruling stopped Judge Sara Ellis from obtaining daily updates from Bovino about arrests and immigration crackdown in the Chicago area. This all happened hours before Bovino was set to appear before Judge Sara for his first hearing; the appeal from the Department of Justice is accusing Ellis of ‘overreach’ and ‘micromanaging’
While defeat may be the initial sentiment when learning about the appeal decision, lawmakers and organizations like the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) have been planning and organizing tirelessly behind the scenes to pass the S.A.L.T. bill. The S.A.L.T. platform provisions in the bill are focused on protecting immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement overreach and include measures such as:
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Banning civil arrests by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) at and near courthouses.
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Adopting protections for individuals accessing healthcare in hospitals, including restrictions on sharing patient data and requirements for staff training on handling immigration enforcement operations.
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Expanding safe school protections to include early childhood centers and institutions of higher education, with safeguards for student data.
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Providing a more straightforward pathway for Illinois residents to sue federal agencies for unlawful arrests and detention.
On Oct 15, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), supported by 100 partner organizations in the state, traveled to Springfield, Illinois and met with legislators to push a series of bills, among other provisions, that would prevent ICE arrests at courthouses, protect patients & staff from enforcement in hospitals, strengthen the TRUST Act, and expand Safe Schools protections. On Oct 31, Illinois lawmakers passed HB 1312, and the bill is now being sent to Governor Pritzker for signature.
This taste of victory may seem like a grain of sand against the fascist government. Still, policy change is one way for cities across the United States to start protecting their citizens and democracy. In a time where fascism is on the rise, it is more important than ever for lawmakers to stand with those they represent by advocating legal action and policies that protect people from ICE’s unlawful, racist, violent attacks.
Luz Melissa Cortes Nieto is a Gen X student majoring in Communication with a minor in Journalism. She came to the United States at the age of 7 and has always had a passion for writing and the environment. As a member of El Tribuno del Pueblo Editorial Board, she is the Climate Change Desk. She hopes to bring awareness about climate change and how we can all come together to mitigate environmental consequences.
