Issue Position: Protecting Immigrant Children and Families

Issue Position

Jennifer authored, sponsored, and passed three new pieces of legislation to create humanitarian protections for immigrant families. As the only immigration attorney in the Illinois General Assembly, Jennifer is deeply concerned about federal immigration policy hurting Illinois families.

Legal Guardianship for Children of Immigrant Parents
Jennifer wrote this legislation enabling parents to designate a short-term legal guardian for their children if they are detained or deported. This prevents children from being swept into the system and ensures children are placed in the care of someone who is known and trusted by their family, rather than ICE or other immigration authorities.

Protections for Abused, Abandoned, and Neglected Immigrant Children
Too often, abused, abandoned, and neglected immigrant children fall through the cracks in our system. That's why Jennifer authored and sponsored legislation that changes Illinois immigration law to require state courts to handle issues of abuse, abandonment, and neglect, ensuring that minors can apply for special immigrant juvenile visas.

Access to Justice for Immigrants
Immigrants can be frightened to come forward as victims for fear that their immigrant status will be used to hold them hostage. Predatory individuals and organizations often target immigrants specifically for this reason and threaten deportation if the victims report them. Jennifer wrote and passed legislation to protect immigrants in court, deeming immigration status inadmissible unless relevant to the case, protecting immigrants who come forward.

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