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Gov. Rauner Rejects Call For A State Bill of Rights For Immigrants

Carl Nelson
/
WNIJ

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is rejecting calls for a state-level immigrants’ bill of rights.

It came a day after President Donald Trump announced he’s ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which deferred deportation proceedings for certain young undocumented immigrants. On Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel called on Rauner to protect those so-called dreamers by establishing a bill of rights. But Rauner said it’s a federal issue.

“I do not believe this challenge for these children can be addressed on a state-by-state basis," he said. "I think that would not be correct; it would not be the right solution. We need a comprehensive immigration reform, it should be done at the federal level for the entire nation, and it should be done by Congress."

Rauner did not answer a question about what “comprehensive immigration reform” should look like. 

Meanwhile, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the DACA program.

Madigan’s lawsuit — filed with attorneys general from 15 other states — says the president's decision unfairly targets people of Mexican origin, since they make up 78 percent of the program. She also says Illinois has been one of the top states for DACA applications, behind just California and Texas.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.