In 2026, members of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights organized to win a platform rooted in dignity and respect for all residents of our state. As the ramifications of Trump’s disastrous HR 1 are felt across Illinois, our collective demands would help significantly  reduce harm caused by life threatening federal budget cuts, and fully invest in vital state programs that all families need to thrive.

The following is a statement from Lawrence Benito, executive director of ICIRR:

“As the 104th General Assembly spring session comes to a close, ICIRR members celebrate meaningful policy and budget wins for our communities, but are disappointed that the final budget does not include multiple options on the table to Trump-proof Illinois. By failing to be bold this session, our state has put families and vital programs at risk. It is clear that we as a state still have considerable work to do in the face of new and evolving threats from the White House and Congress.

We cannot discount that thousands of grassroots leaders representing ICIRR members and allies fought for and secured major wins including funding for immigrant services, significant progressive revenue, and health care to protect the people of Illinois from some of Trump’s authoritarian federal policies. ICIRR members will continue working with our elected allies to move the General Assembly as a whole to take the bold stances needed to protect our neighbors, ensure all families have what they need to thrive, and guard against the attacks from the Trump administration against communities across Illinois.”

ICIRR celebrates the following victories from this session:

• $40 million investment in funding for public benefits program outreach, interpretation and translation services, and citizenship and DACA application assistance;

• $70 million for emergency assistance to help families to stay afloat after losing SNAP due to Trump’s federal budget;

• Preserving funds for healthcare for immigrant seniors;

• Passage of HB 5390 (Aquino/Avelar), to improve access to hospital financial assistance programs for low-income, uninsured residents;

• Along with members of the Illinois Revenue Alliance (ILRA), we won inclusion of a digital ads tax and decoupling provisions that will generate meaningful future revenue that ILRA members will organize to ensure will be invested in programs that our communities deserve.

ICIRR members are committed to continue fighting for:

• State programs that provide healthcare, food assistance, and other services for those who lost such support under HR 1;

• Affordable healthcare coverage for all who are otherwise excluded from access to care;

• Provisions to strengthen the TRUST Act that would protect due process and keep families together;

• Policies that restrict collection of and access to data that can be weaponized for  immigration detention and family separation;

• Revenue solutions that ensure the wealthiest in our state pay their fair share of taxes;

• Long-term solutions that address Illinois’ inequitable tax structure that lifts the burden from everyday families;

• Commitments from legislators that money raised by the new digital ads tax be used to fund our communities’ priorities.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) builds power with over 100 member and partner organizations representing diverse immigrant and refugee communities across the state. Together the coalition organizes to win policies that ensure a more equitable society rooted in dignity and respect for all. Learn more at icirr.org.