Prairie State Wire

It takes a Virginia Democrat to reveal just how out of touch Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s social agenda really is, Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) contends.

Ives, who is considering challenging Rauner in the primary, notes that Democrat Ralph Northam, governor-elect of Virginia, told supporters throughout his campaign that if elected he would sign legislation banning Virginia cities from declaring themselves safe havens for illegal immigrants, or sanctuary cities.

Rauner took Illinois in the opposite direction in late August when he enacted the TRUST Act, which bans local law enforcement from stopping, arresting, searching or detaining anyone based solely on immigration status. The law also bars local officials from detaining anyone solely on the basis of a federal immigration detainer unless officials have a criminal warrant.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner

“His decision to protect people who are here illegally and have committed additional crimes is inexplicable,” Ives told Prairie State Wire. “Only five out of 69 GOP state legislators supported the bill. In 2016, more Chicagoans were murdered than in New York City and Los Angeles combined. 

"So, it's especially tragic that Gov. Rauner – and his good friend, Rahm Emanuel –  are less concerned with that staggering figure than they are spending time and taxpayer money protecting criminal aliens and putting law enforcement at greater risk.”

Ives recalled the story of Dennis McCann, an insurance broker who was struck down and killed in 2011 while crossing Kedzie Avenue in Chicago to meet a friend for dinner. The driver, Saul Chavez, had a 0.29 blood alcohol level and was in Illinois from Mexico illegally.

“Chavez was charged with a felony and was given a $250,000 bond,” Ives said. “Two days after McCann was killed, federal officials filed an immigration detainer requesting that Cook County notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement if Chavez was scheduled to be released. But Chicago Democrats were playing immigration politics. The Cook County Board decided that federal detainer requests would be ignored.”

Chavez made bond and fled the country.

“Politicians like Gov. Rauner and Rahm Emanuel, who are more concerned with political pandering than protection, don’t seem to understand – or care – that this isn’t just about politics," Ives said. "Lives are at stake, as is the rule of law.

“I understand, as does Governor-elect Northam, that we must have a lawful immigration system that keeps us safe and upholds the rule of law. The families of Illinois want and deserve nothing less.”