Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan Wednesday issued formal guidance to state and local police on immigration law.
The document outlines recent changes in federal and state policy.
On the one hand is President Donald Trump’s January executive order meant to increase deportations. That’s juxtaposed against Illinois’ new so-called TRUST Act, meant to increase protections for immigrants without legal status.
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed that into law last month.
The AG's guidance says even though the president has expanded the definition of who’s considered a criminal and thus a priority for deportation — that does nothing to create any power for Illinois police to enforce federal immigration law.
In fact, Madigan’s office says Illinois law prohibits state and local law enforcement from arresting someone based solely on immigration status.
