Legislator suspects prosecutions as Illinois cities defy Trump deportation plans

[January 25, 2025]  By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – An Illinois legislator, who is also in law enforcement, suspects police departments and municipalities will lose federal funding if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Just hours after President Donald Trump took the oath of office, DeKalb's city manager Bill Nicklas issued a statement about the police department’s role in supporting federal authorities in carrying out mass deportations.

The statement said the department operates in conformance with the Illinois TRUST Act, which bans law enforcement from assisting immigration agents.

State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, who is also a law enforcement officer, said once someone is a criminal, the TRUST Act is thrown out the window.

“We can try to hide behind the TRUST Act, but the TRUST Act is, in my opinion, more on the lines of civil things and not criminal. If you're here illegally, that's criminal,” said Cabello. “I don't foresee that there's a police department out there that is not going to cooperate with another law enforcement agency. I mean, nobody in their right mind would not want to help get violent criminals off of the street, and that's what's going to be taking place" with Trump’s deportation policies.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez said ICE agents are not allowed to enter district premises without a judicial warrant. Cabello doesn’t foresee the federal authorities coming to a school to speak to a child in any way, shape or form.

“These are folks that are trying to make it seem as though that the federal government and the President of the United States are these horrible people that are going to come to your school and snatch your child,” Cabello said. “People just need to stop and realize that we're going after the worst of the worst right now. Relax. Unless you're worse than the worst, then I hope you're very nervous.”

If an ICE agent shows up, CPS lawyers are available via hotline for school leaders to call and they’ll determine if the judicial warrant is valid.

Foreign nationals were arrested this week during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aimed at immigration fugitives, reentrants and at-large criminal aliens. - Ron Rogers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement | DVIDS

Cabello suspects police departments and municipalities will lose federal funding if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Nicklas said in a statement that going after “non-criminals” would destroy the trust residents need to have with the police. Cabello said the Justice Department has said any state or local official who wishes to stand in the way of deportations will be prosecuted.

"So, if you want to go to jail and lose your career to save the violent offenders that are on your street, you shouldn't have been elected, and you shouldn't be doing the job in the first place,” said Cabello. “If the agencies that don't want to assist the feds in doing what they need to do, especially with violent criminals, then they can deal with not having federal funding.”

In the DeKalb statement, Nicklas said the police department aligns with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police in their compliance with the TRUST Act.

Cabello said not all police chiefs would agree that the act applies to illegal immigrants who are criminals.

"I can tell you there's a lot of police chiefs that do not agree with that,” said Cabello. “If anybody really looks at the TRUST Act, it's really talking about civil things. It's not talking about criminal stuff.”

DeKalb Police, according to the city manager, will focus on reducing crime and enhancing quality of life for all residents.

“Regardless of anyone’s immigration status, the DeKalb police will always help those in need, tend to victims of crime, and work with local agencies to assure the health and welfare of those we serve,” said the statement released by Nicklas.