Illinois House Republicans held a press conference last week to denounce the state's "Sanctuary State" policy, with Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) emphasizing the need for local control over immigration enforcement.
Coffey, alongside Reps. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) and Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona), criticized the financial and security implications of illegal immigration in Illinois, arguing that the state’s policies under Democratic leadership have created an unsustainable burden on taxpayers.
At the press conference, Coffey highlighted his proposal, House Bill 3241, which would allow individual counties to opt out of the Illinois TRUST Act. The TRUST Act, signed into law in 2017, limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Coffey’s bill would give counties the authority to decide whether to comply with its provisions.
“Last year, I visited the border to see our border problem firsthand and listen directly from the Border Patrol agents, agencies, and nonprofits handling the thousands of migrants flooding into Eagle Pass, Texas,” Coffey said. “I heard from officials from poor counties on the southern border without the funds or resources to pay for the influx of migrants and from organizations helping families navigate the aftermath of human trafficking and drugs.”
Coffey’s remarks underscored the broader concerns voiced by House Republicans about the fiscal impact of illegal immigration. Davidsmeyer cited a recent audit showing that Illinois’ healthcare program for undocumented immigrants cost up to 286% more than initially projected by Governor J.B. Pritzker’s administration. He also pointed to his own bill, HB 1317, which seeks to repeal the TRUST Act entirely.
Jacobs echoed the push to eliminate Illinois’ sanctuary policies, calling the TRUST Act a barrier to law enforcement. “We have a responsibility to require that immigrants come to our country the lawful way, and to keep our citizens and communities safe from the gangs, drugs, and crime that have so badly harmed so many people across our state and country,” he said.
While the legislative proposals face an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, Coffey’s bill represents a push for counties to have more say in how they handle immigration enforcement. The debate over Illinois' sanctuary policies is likely to continue as Republican lawmakers seek to advance their legislative package in the coming months.