By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil -
It was a shock and extreme disappointment to learn Illinois' Governor Bruce Rauner signed SB 31, an unpopular bill that appears to have designated Illinois a sanctuary state. It forbids the arrest or detainment of our nearly 500,000 illegal aliens and it shields them from federal immigration laws.
The Chicago Tribune noted:
1) The new law will essentially make it impossible for Illinois police to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they have a suspected criminal illegal alien, thus increasing the possibility that they will be released into the general public.
2) The sanctuary state law makes it illegal for local law enforcement to arrest an illegal alien, even if the individual is wanted by ICE for immigration violations.
The new law requires a judicial warrant before any Illinois agency can cooperate or provide information to federal immigration authorities or allow immigration agents to enter school, state or judicial buildings. Violation of immigration law is not mentioned as a “qualifying criminal activity” under this act.
Joining hands with California
It appears Illinois has joined hands with California's Leftist Democrat leaders to protect those who violate our established immigration laws. Shocked and angry patriots in Illinois are asking questions and searching for answers as to why their Governor made what they consider a horrendous decision that violates established immigration laws.
Apparently Governor Bruce Rauner is copying California’s lead to protect foreigners who disrespect and violate our immigration laws. We are left to question how all this will impact Illinois. Will illegal immigrants now flood into the state and ultimately take jobs from our citizens? Will they require and be rewarded with welfare payments, which will ultimately deplete funds designated for other purposes? Will this lack of law enforcement change the demographics of our neighborhoods?
These and other valid questions have not been sufficiently addressed or answered.
Officials claim this was a difficult decision and have attempted to justify it, but it remains highly unpopular with the general public who understands Illinois citizens will be paying a heavy price for this experiment. This must not be labeled an act of compassion or be justified because of the one or two possible ways it could possibly prove helpful. There is overwhelming evidence from states like California and countries in Europe, which proves not enforcing immigration laws bring unintended consequences to citizens.
Governor Rauner has just exposed Illinois citizens to potentially serious problems and he will “own” them all.
Facts do not lie
The Department of Justice data shows that more than 90 percent of foreign-born prisoners currently in the United States are illegal immigrants. It also indicates that about 24 percent of the entire federal prison population are foreign born: 45,493 to be exact. Of those, just 3,939 are U.S. citizens; the remaining 41,554 are in the United States illegally.
Apparently those who break one law are more likely to break more, which is a fact states like California and Illinois officials should have considered before protecting and even granting special favors.
The facts speak for themselves. Illegal immigrants have cost California citizens a whopping $30.29 billion a year. That is $7,352 per immigrant. Did Governor Rauner consider that once illegal immigrants learn Illinois has become a sanctuary state, there will be an influx of new immigrants flooding into the state? Can Illinois afford what this will cost? Do Illinoisans really want their taxes spent on foreign illegals, or would they rather they be used for needed improvement on state infrastructure projects? California has proven what the next surprise will likely be: a series of tax increases to pay for the costs of this Governor’s altruistic but misguided gesture.
Certainly Illinois state officials must be aware of the negative consequences California has endured, so why make the same mistakes? Perhaps it is for self-serving reasons. Consider that California's “undocumented illegal immigrants” are grateful to the politicians who help them at taxpayer expense. They have an interest in keeping these officials in office, which is also true of Illinois, with an added nod from Republicans who are swayed by the demands of Big Business for a supply of cheap labor.
Voting made easy for illegals
Obviously, non-citizens are forbidden to vote. However, those who ignore one law often ignore other laws too. This applies to both illegal immigrants as well as the politicians, because both have chosen to ignore our long-held, established immigration laws.
Consider CA state officials have continually changed even more laws to accommodate their rising illegal immigrant population. They even rewarded those here illegally with CA driver licenses. California officials also made it easy for illegal immigrants to vote.
First they gave the law breakers the right to get a CA drivers license. While at the DMV, they also provided them with a Voter Registration Form which can be filled out, sent to the State, and the recipient will be automatically sent a “Vote by Mail” ballot the following election cycle.
There is no way the Voter Registrar can identify the mailed-in ballot as one from an “llegal," because the CA State Department did not send the Voter Registrar any documentation as to the name or addresses of the illegals granted the CA driver licenses and voter registration form.
Outrageous? Most honest people would say absolutely and wonder how or why CA State officials allowed it, and/or why the media has ignored reporting it to the public. Most Californians are not aware of the shocking changes in their laws, as Leftist media sources choose what and how to frame information they print.
Not to be outdone, SB 1933, signed into law by Governor Rauner on Monday, August 28, reforms Illinois' current registration laws so that whenever an eligible Illinois citizen applies for, updates, or renews a driver’s license or state ID, he or she will be automatically be registered to vote at their new address. It rivals California for being the most far-reaching automatic voter registration law in the country.
Forecasting Illinois' future
Illinois residents should look to California as to what else they can expect in the future.
As suggested by co-writer Bonnie O'Neil, consider Santa Ana, the County Seat. The City Council is now comprised of all Hispanics, some may not even be legal American citizens. The Santa Ana City Council recently declared themselves a “Sanctuary City.” Sadly, this CA city is not the exception, it is just one of many examples of Southern California cities where the demographics have drastically changed along with the culture.
Are Illinois residents prepared for these inevitable changes?
Consider also that Orange County, CA,had always been a Republican County up until the recent 2016 election, when results showed an unexpected surge in Democrat voters, which can be attributed to the massive illegal immigrant population. The media has remained strangely silent on most all of these facts, including Santa Ana’s alarming increase of dangerous Hispanic gangs and major crime activity in the city. Media sources have proved strangely silent on this sad development, but angry and disillusioned officers as well as citizens who fear for their lives are finally speaking out.
Shame on our elected officials
Our forefathers were brilliant and the proof is seen in the success of our Constitution and the laws they enacted, including those regarding immigration, which propelled America into becoming the leader of the World. Why are these successful laws now being challenged, changed and/or ignored? Shame on our elected officials for their lack of concern for American citizens, our established laws, and this nation’s heritage. We are disgusted by shameful new legislation that grants rights to those who violate(d) our laws, rewards "anchor" babies and allows "chain migration."
The 2016 election proved most American voters are disgusted with the lack of immigration law enforcement. Donald Trump was elected largely due to his promise to control our borders and deport illegal immigrants, especially those convicted of additional crimes while in the United States.
Sadly, most Democrats, and a few Illinois and California Republican leaders, have been willing to ignore established immigration rights and defy our Federal laws. Trump was the outsider; the non-politician who resonated with the growing dissatisfaction of our people. All politicians should consider this and take these facts very seriously.
What recourse do law-abiding patriots have when elected officials blatantly show disrespect for our laws? We can remember the names of these politicians, inform and enlighten our friends, neighbors, and relatives, and then vote for their opponents at the next election. For the sake of America, it is imperative we all become educated voters who choose our leaders wisely.
Consider this quote from President Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. . . ." Our country will remain powerful only if its citizens vote wisely. We the people determine this country’s future and our own fate.
