Excerpts from article:
...SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Sheriffs' Association said Tuesday that some violent felons who had faced deportation are instead being released into local communities after their prison terms end as a result of a policy change by Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration.
..."It's alarming to think that because of a change in policy that suddenly these types of individuals might be walking the streets and we might not even be aware of it," said Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington, one of several GOP lawmakers to sign a letter seeking legislative hearings.
...But an immigration expert said the practice violates the state Trust Act, the 2017 law that limits local law enforcement agencies' cooperation with federal immigration officials.
...Robert Guadian, director of the Chicago field office for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations, said in a statement that Illinois "put politics ahead of public safety" when it severed communication between Corrections and ICE.
...Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said the Trust Act, signed in August 2017 by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, prohibits the cooperation of IDOC and Kankakee County with ICE, even if ICE holds a warrant or so-called federal immigration detainer on the person.
Submitted 1514 days ago
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