When the Illinois General Assembly passed the TRUST Act in 2017, the goal was clear: to make Illinois a more “welcoming” state for illegal immigrants. Today, it’s more obvious than ever that this law endangers Illinois citizens, weakens the rule of law, and sends a strong pro-illegal immigration message to those who break U.S. immigration laws. It’s time to repeal the TRUST Act once and for all.
In its simplest form, the TRUST Act bans local and state law enforcement and Department of Corrections (DOC) personnel from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials except in extreme cases. This means that if a known illegal immigrant is arrested, serving time for a crime, or is being released from custody, local law enforcement and DOC officials are not allowed to notify ICE.
When I took my seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in 2018, repealing this misguided law became a top legislative priority. Since its adoption, Republicans have filed multiple bills aimed at repealing or limiting the TRUST Act, only to have Democrats block them from even being debated. Most recently, I filed Senate Bill 1203 in January of this year. SB 1203 would repeal the TRUST Act entirely, prohibit any government unit from adopting policies that interfere with federal immigration enforcement, and require full cooperation with ICE so that illegal immigrants charged with or convicted of crimes can be identified, reported, and deported.
Surprisingly, it was Republican Governor Bruce Rauner who signed the TRUST Act into law in 2017, despite near-unanimous opposition from Republicans in the Senate and House. By teaming up with Democrats on a bill that restricted local and state law enforcement on immigration issues, Rauner broke from GOP principles and faced sharp criticism. His decision to sign the TRUST Act helped cement his status as a one-term governor in Illinois.
Governor Pritzker didn’t sign the TRUST Act, but he has amended it more than once to strengthen anti-ICE protections for illegal immigrants. His administration has also enacted several other policies that make Illinois a destination state for illegal immigrants.
The latest example of the dangers of the TRUST Act took place on August 9, 2025, in Stephenson County. A head-on crash killed two people, including a well-loved member of the Freeport community. The accident was caused by Rolando Ico-Choc, a 30-year-old Guatemalan living illegally in the U.S. ICE has confirmed that Ico-Choc crossed the border during the Biden Administration. He had a history of felony DUI arrests and a domestic battery conviction. Alcohol and speeding are believed to be factors in the crash, and the investigation continues.
Shawn Byers, Chicago Acting Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, confirmed that ICE had requested custody of Ico-Choc seven times. Each request was ignored due to restrictions imposed by the TRUST Act. In other words, ICE was actively trying to deport him.
While the Governor’s office stays silent, Democrats accuse Republicans of politicizing a tragedy. But the role of elected officials isn’t to wait for political convenience. Our job is to lead, even in times of heartbreak.
When the legislature returns to Springfield for the fall veto session in October, I will once again advocate for the passage of SB 1203. It is still an active bill in the Senate. Now is the time for Illinois lawmakers to stand up for the safety of their constituents. We must repeal the TRUST Act to prevent another preventable tragedy.
