East Central Reporter

Illinois State Representative Chris Miller (R-Charleston) has recently intensified his calls for the repeal of Illinois' Sanctuary State status, arguing that current policies contribute to rising crime rates and a strain on state resources. 

Miller, a vocal critic of Illinois' Sanctuary State policies, emphasized that the current approach of shielding undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement agencies, like ICE, only exacerbates the problem. 

“My colleagues and I have called for an end to Illinois’ Sanctuary State policies,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “We are only making our communities less safe by refusing to cooperate with ICE. Not only are we jeopardizing innocent lives with these woke policies, but we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars we don’t have.”  

“The State of Illinois cannot protect the border, but the one thing we can do is avoid making the immigration problem worse, and that is what we are doing with the efforts to end Illinois Sanctuary State status.”

The rise in crime, particularly in cities like Chicago, has been a significant focal point for Miller. 

He believes there is a direct correlation between the influx of illegal immigrants and the increase in criminal activity. 

“Crime is spiking in Chicago, and while many on the left want to deny any correlation between the arrival of thousands of illegal immigrants and the increase in crime, there is clearly a cause and effect at work,” Miller said. “Obviously, illegal immigrants arriving in Chicago is not the only reason for a rise in crime, but it clearly is a factor. These crimes are preventable if we had better policies and better leadership.”

Miller’s comments on illegal immigration follow a disturbing February attack on a Chicago commuter, which was captured on video in July showing Venezuelan nationals violently assaulting and robbing the victim. 

The suspects—Fernando Loyo-Rodriguez, Wilker Gutierrez Sierra, Carlos Carreno-Carreno, and Yonnier Guasamucare Garcia—were quickly apprehended and are facing serious charges, including robbery and aggravated battery.

According to the New York Post, retired Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel has raised alarms that South American gangs are exploiting migrants from shelters to target upscale malls like Oakbrook Center, suggesting that many border crossers have criminal intent.

Miller’s stance is part of a broader Republican push to address what GOP members see as the failures of the TRUST Act of 2017, which transformed Illinois into a sanctuary state. He is advocating for additional measures to address crime and immigration issues, including the repeal of sanctuary status and the reinstatement of cash bail. 

“We need to stop spending money on programs and services for illegal immigrants,” Miller said. “We need to repeal Illinois’ Sanctuary State status, and we need to reinstate cash bail. If we take these steps, we can and will make our communities safer.”

Law enforcement has noted a rise in drug-related and human trafficking crimes linked to illegal immigration; there is a rise in organized crime and opioid overdoes in Illinois, causing concern for public safety.

As Miller and other Republicans continue their campaign against sanctuary policies, the controversy surrounding these laws remains a critical issue in the ongoing discussion about crime and immigration reform in Illinois.

A recent drug bust in McHenry County, involving two Mexican nationals with 17 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, has further fueled the debate. 

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) praised local officials for their crackdown on crime and criticized federal and state sanctuary policies, advocating for the prosecution of illegal criminals and a repeal of sanctuary status. 

“Our county elected officials will prosecute these illegal criminals, who are intent upon ruining the lives of our citizens and preying on our children, not only through illicit drug sales, but other felonious activities,” Mclaughlin told the McHenry Times. “Not only should we throw the book at them, we should remind ourselves of the federal and state officials who support sanctuary status and we should throw them out of office in the upcoming November elections.”