The TRUST Act matters in Aurora: Mayor Irvin says “It is the right, just and fair thing to do.”

I am pleased to see Senate Bill 31 – the Illinois Trust Act – signed into law today. Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman (who was in attendance at the bill signing ceremony) and I joined with other leaders throughout the state to support this bill and encouraged the governor to sign it into law. It is the right, just and fair thing to do.

The Illinois TRUST Act will forbid local police from holding people for immigration purposes without court-ordered warrants. It forbids local police from stopping, searching or arresting anyone based on their immigration or citizenship status. If someone is going to be detained in Illinois, it should be because an actual crime has occurred, not because of how they look, what they believe or what paperwork they may or may not have.

The Illinois TRUST Act reinforces the message that our immigrant neighbors are, in fact, part of our community.  Aurora’s rich history is filled with stories of immigrants of the past and continues with immigrants in the present and future. One of the reasons we supported this bill was to help make all Aurorans feel safer when interacting with law enforcement in knowing that their family, friends and businesses won’t be hurt in the process. By passing this law, Illinois is upholding constitutional rights for everyone.

The legislation had the support of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Elgin Police Department, the Chicago Federation of Labor, the Illinois AFL-CIO, the Latino Policy Forum, Family Focus Aurora and the Arab American Action Network.  Dozens of groups are part of the coalition supporting the bill, including disability and labor organizations.