Rep. Jeanne Ives argues Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature on legislation making Illinois a "sanctuary state" has inspired liberal Gov. Jerry Brown of California, where a similar measure went into effect Jan. 1.
Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan recently blasted Brown’s decision to allow a sanctuary state law to take effect in the state as “a political decision, and not a law enforcement decision," according to a press release from Ives.
Homan said the move puts both law enforcement and residents at greater risk, not to mention leaves ICE officials with more slack to pick up in making sure states and communities remain adequately protected.
Ives, who is running against Rauner in the Republican primary, said his actions have left Illinois just as vulnerable as Homan now sees California as being.
“Mr. Homan’s comments could very easily apply to Illinois, which Governor Rauner made a sanctuary state by signing SB31 last year,” she said in the release. “Sanctuary policies make all of us less safe. Liberal elites, like Jerry Brown and Bruce Rauner, are very cavalier with the lives of other people. They use people as the means to their political ends. Brown and Rauner believe they are above the law. And, therefore, believe they can decide who has to follow it and who does not. I will lead the charge against the pandering political class.”
With nearly 3,400 shootings and almost 650 homicides taking place in Chicago in 2017, Ives said Rauner should be concentrating on making sure residents across the state are protected, and not spending so much time focusing on putting safeguards in place to make sure criminals feel safe.
“I'm a pro-legal-immigration conservative,” Ives added in the release. “Sanctuary state protects those who violate the law at the expense of those who follow the law. It pits law enforcement agencies against one another rather than encouraging cooperation in the interests of making communities safer. Governor Rauner’s sanctuary state policy should be repealed. As gov, I won't pretend not to be in charge. I will lead this charge to protect our citizens.”
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