SPRINGFIELD, IL  – State Senator Laura Fine has introduced Senate Bill 2712, comprehensive legislation to protect access to essential services and strengthen privacy when federal immigration enforcement occurs at schools, hospitals, or in local communities across Illinois.

“Making sure that people feel safe in our communities, schools, and hospitals is our responsibility as lawmakers in Illinois,” Senator Fine added. “This bill gives teachers, essential healthcare workers, and law enforcement the tools to do their jobs while keeping our neighborhoods safe from fear-based enforcement and federal overreach."

Fine’s legislation includes key protections to keep Illinois families safe and uphold their rights:

• Keeps schools safe: Requires school districts and higher education institutions to establish clear procedures to protect students and staff if immigration enforcement activity occurs on campus.

• Protects healthcare access: Stops immigration agents from entering non-public treatment areas without a judicial warrant, and ensures healthcare workers are trained to respond safely and lawfully.

• Expands legal defense: Provides resources for public defenders to represent non-citizens in immigration cases and establishes a $3 million annual Deportation Defense Grant Program.

• Strengthens privacy protections: Prevents the misuse of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) data by ensuring it cannot be shared with federal agencies for immigration enforcement.
  

Together, these reforms codify Illinois’ commitment to being a state that values both public safety and human dignity and ensures that essential services remain accessible to everyone, regardless of citizenship or background.