Welcome to the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus

Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus responds to continued escalation of ICE involvement

CHICAGO— The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus released the following statement condemning increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity across the Chicagoland area and beyond, which recently resulted in two fatal shootings:

“Immigrant families across Illinois are living with fear as ICE enforcement continues to escalate in our communities. That fear has only deepened following the fatal shooting of a Colombian man by an ICE agent in Maine this week, coming just days after another immigrant father lost his life during a separate enforcement operation.

“The persecution of our immigrant community needs to stop. ICE needs to leave our cities and leave our communities alone. We need to stand up and fight against the extremists in our country, because our immigrant neighbors deserve to feel protected and safe in our communities.

Read more: Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus responds to continued escalation of ICE involvement

Cunningham law expands opportunities for deputy sheriff recruitment

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s measure to help law enforcement agencies recruit and retain qualified deputy sheriffs has become law.

“As we face a shortage of police officers in our state, we have formed a program to help foster groups of young people into qualified public servants,” said Cunningham a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This will not only help address the shortage but also ensure that our future police officers are ones our communities can count on for their safety.”

Read more: Cunningham law expands opportunities for deputy sheriff recruitment

Studies on breakthrough therapies for veteran suicide prevention to continue in Illinois, thanks to Porfirio

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Porfirio’s measure to continue studying mental health treatments to address the nationwide veteran suicide crisis has been signed into law.

“The studies and outcomes produced by this council have been extremely promising. They are saving real lives,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “We must continue to fight against veteran suicide as a national crisis, and this law keeps Illinois at the forefront of that fight.”

Porfirio’s law continues the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council and places the council under the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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Illinois raises compensation for wrongfully incarcerated under landmark Sims law

CHICAGO — Freed and exonerated Illinoisans joined State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. and State Representative Justin Slaughter at a press conference Tuesday to celebrate a newly signed law creating a clearer path to financial relief for people who have been wrongfully incarcerated in Illinois.

“Today marks a change in how the state of Illinois sees and responds to the injustice of a wrongful incarceration,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “When the system gets it wrong, it’s on us as leaders to step up and make it right. This law goes beyond compensation to provide a path toward justice.”

Read more: Illinois raises compensation for wrongfully incarcerated under landmark Sims law