Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is reviewing a proposal to ban private detention centers to house ICE detainees, reports the Chicago Tribune. The Illinois Senate approved House Bill 2040.
A private company in Virginia, Immigration Centers of America, wants to construct a detention center in Dwight, IL – outside of Chicago – to house up to 1000 immigration detainees scheduled for deportation or waiting for deportation hearings with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Illinois Private Correctional Facility Moratorium Act has long prohibited the Illinois Department of Corrections sending local, county or state for-profit, privately owned prisons. Bill 2040 would extend this law to cover immigration detainees.
A statement by his office said Governor Pritzer, “believes Illinois should be a welcoming state for immigrants.”
Chicago immigration lawyer Mario Godoy is looking forward to Gov. Pritzer signing the ban on for-profit immigration centers in Illinois:
“Illinois can be a model for other states to say no to for-profit immigrant detention centers. We’ve all seen the news where frightened, desperate people are locked in cages under deplorable conditions in these private detention centers. We understand why local communities want jobs – but the need for employment does not condone children and families being incarcerated.”
The attorneys at Chicago’s Godoy Law Office fight for immigrant rights and help immigrants navigate the complex and numerous immigration policies, procedures, and regulations. If you need help with an immigration issue, please contact our office at 312-635-4029.
