McHenry Times

Reps. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) and David McSweeney (R-Park Ridge) have asked the General Assembly to convene a special session to immediately repeal The Trust Act, which some say has moved Illinois to sanctuary state status, according to a release from Skillicorn.

The law, recently signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, prevents state and local police from arresting or holding individuals because of their immigration status and bars them from acquiescing to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests to hold individuals based on federal detainers if those detainers are not accompanied by a warrant.

“The Trust Act contradicts itself,” Skillicorn said in a statement. “The language prohibits the McHenry County sheriff from holding suspects on Federal Immigration Detainers. Trust Act advocates say this isn't a sanctuary state law because an exception was added to give law enforcement 'immunity from any civil or criminal liability.’ That will be of little comfort to victims of violence perpetrated by those released under this law.”

Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) | Courtesy of repskillicorn.com

Skillicorn specifically referred to a recent case in McHenry County in which a man charged with domestic battery was turned over to ICE because of an immigration detainer. He is now suing the county following the enactment of the Trust Act.

“As written The Trust Act is a sanctuary state law," Skillicorn contended. "It is bad policy to ignore federal law, even with an exception that contradicts itself.”