Ted Dabrowski, candidate for governor of Illinois, announced in a press conference that he is calling for the repeal of the Illinois Trust Act and condemned sanctuary policies as threats to public safety.
At the press conference outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, Dabrowski declared that his top priority as governor would be to repeal the Illinois Trust Act. He argued that the law has effectively made Illinois a sanctuary state and prevents law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials. He emphasized that this policy undermines public safety by keeping criminal offenders from being turned over to ICE.
Dabrowski was joined by Angel Families, including Brian McCann and Joe Abraham, who lost family members to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. These families highlighted their personal tragedies as examples of the dangers posed when local authorities are barred from working with immigration enforcement. The event drew additional speakers, including Chuck Hernandez, Ray Rubio, and Jostin Fuqua, reflecting a coalition of voices critical of Illinois’ sanctuary policies.
According to Law Justia, the Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law in August 2017, restricts state and local law enforcement in Illinois from detaining, arresting, or continuing to hold individuals solely based on immigration status, civil immigration detainers, or administrative “non-judicial” warrants—unless a valid judicial warrant exists. The law also prohibits police from inquiring about a person’s immigration status during interactions like stops or custody and bars local authorities from entering into or renewing agreements that would allow them to detain immigrants on behalf of federal civil immigration agencies.
The ICE facility in Broadview has become a frequent site of protests where demonstrators have attempted to block law enforcement operations. Dabrowski argued that these confrontations could be avoided if Governor JB Pritzker cooperated with federal agents by handing over detained undocumented immigrants. He criticized Pritzker for labeling ICE officers as “terrorists,” saying such rhetoric fuels hostility and endangers law enforcement officers while referencing violence against ICE agents in Dallas earlier the same day.
Dabrowski brings more than 30 years of experience spanning international finance and domestic policy leadership. He spent 16 years in senior financial positions, most notably as Head of Corporate Banking at Citibank in Poland, where he advised the government on economic reforms and oversaw multi-billion-dollar Treasury portfolios in both Poland and Mexico. Upon returning to the United States, he transitioned into public policy, serving as Vice President of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute before becoming President of Wirepoints, a nonprofit dedicated to analyzing Illinois’ economy and government.
