Pritzker Signs Order To Expand Illinois Immigrant Programs

AURORA, IL — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order Thursday morning alongside legislators and immigrant rights advocates at Family Focus Aurora. In a release sent to Patch, the Office of the Governor announced Thursday the measure (Executive Order 2019-07) expands access to welcoming centers, in addition to informing immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees of Illinois programs that support their economic and social opportunities and human and civil rights.

The governor's office said through the legislation, Pritzker is taking a proactive approach to welcome immigrant families to Illinois and making sure they're supported and know their rights.

“This executive order will help protect immigrants and refugees and allow all our diverse immigrant communities to thrive. Let there be no doubt that Illinois is a welcoming state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With our president doing everything he can to attack immigrants and refugees in Illinois, I want to make it clear from the beginning of my administration that we’re going to stand up for all of our children and families. Illinois should be a state where all have access to opportunity and the ability to thrive, and my administration is taking steps to advance that goal.”

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According to the governor's office:

• Illinois is home to 1.8 million immigrants
• One in six workers in Illinois is an immigrant.
• There are 120,000 immigrant business owners in the state
• Immigrants who are employers generate more than $2.5 billion in business income, and they also pay billions in federal, state and local taxes.

“I commend Gov. Pritzker’s early work to ensure Illinois remains a welcoming place for immigrants from across the world who continue to strengthen our economy, our neighborhoods and our state,”Sen. Linda Holmes (D-42nd) said, according to the governor's office.

This move comes nearly a year and a half after former Gov. Bruce Rauner broke with other conservatives when he signed legislation in August 2017 that makes it illegal for police to detain people based solely on their immigration status. Senate Bill 31, also known as the Illinois TRUST Act, prohibits law enforcement from stopping, detaining or arresting anyone based on their status or an immigration detainer.

The law came amid immigration crackdowns that led to arrests statewide.

However, a 2018 campaign ad from Pritzker said that Gov. Rauner was profiting from the separation of families.

Regarding Thursday's move by Pritzker, Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-83rd) said,“Today's executive order shows this governor is committed to making Illinois a welcoming state, letting families know their rights and getting them the tools they need to thrive.”

Sen. Omar Aquino (D-2nd) also commented on the matter, saying, “Immigrants who come to America want to better their lives, contribute to their communities and live in a place where they feel safe. Welcoming Centers play a key role in guiding new immigrants and those seeking asylum as they settle into our great state."

Image via Governor JB Pritzker