McHenry Times

State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) is heating up the debate over immigration and law enforcement policies following a significant drug bust in McHenry County  involving two Mexican nationals. 

McLaughlin, speaking to the McHenry Times, praised local law enforcement for their efforts in McHenry County. 

“We are blessed to live in McHenry County, where our sheriffs and state’s attorneys actually have made crime illegal again,” McLaughlin told Mchenry Times. 

“Our county elected officials will prosecute these illegal criminals, who are intent upon ruining the lives of our citizens and preying on our children, not only through illicit drug sales, but other felonious activities. Not only should we throw the book at them, we should remind ourselves of the federal and state officials who support sanctuary status and we should throw them out of office in the upcoming November elections.” 

McLaughlin’s comments came after a major drug bust in McHenry County in which two Mexican nationals were arrested with 17 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl worth $425,000.

Enrique Navar-Favela and Robert Cristian Chavez-Salgado were arrested in McHenry County after Chavez-Salgado was seen carrying a duffel bag containing the drugs into a Super 8 motel. 

[Enrique Navar-Favela and Robert Cristian Chavez-Salgado / McHenry County Sheriff's Office.]

The duo has been charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver and possession of controlled substances, both serious felonies. 

The judge emphasized the danger posed by such quantities of drugs, particularly highlighting the lethal risks associated with fentanyl. 

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department did not respond to phone calls from the McHenry Times for more details on the incident. 

The office of State’s Attorney Patrick Keneally told the McHenry Times the county’s prosecutor would comment more on the case after the holiday weekend. 

McLaughlin and others have long advocated for a repeal of the state’s sanctuary status. 

The TRUST Act of 2017 transformed Illinois into a sanctuary state, shielding undocumented immigrants from federal immigration enforcement. This policy has sparked significant controversy as the state grapples with the repercussions.

Now, with over nearly 700,000 undocumented residents in the state that costs taxpayers billions of dollars annually. 

Meanwhile crimes linked to organized crime activity oftentimes linked to foreign drug cartels in the state, such as human trafficking and drug dealing, have risen dramatically. 

Since 2013, the number of overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl has increased 3,341%.