SPRINGFIELD, IL – Today, Governor Pritzker signed the Safe Schools for All bill (HB 3247) into law. Advocates with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), the Latino Policy Forum, and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) celebrated the Governor’s action to protect immigrant students and their families.

The effort led by ICIRR, the Latino Policy Forum, MALDEF, and lead sponsors Representative Lilian Jiménez and Senator Karina Villa, was driven by community concerns regarding threats and attacks from the Trump administration and escalating ICE harassment and enforcement in immigrant communities.

Illinois is the first state to codify into law Plyler v. Doe, a landmark 1982 Supreme Court decision that undocumented children and children with undocumented parents have the same right as U.S. citizens and permanent residents to attend public schools. The law positions Illinois as a leader in protecting the right of all students to an education.

In response, ICIRR, the Latino Policy Forum, and MALDEF shared the following statements:

“As Illinois students prepare for the start of the school year, our communities celebrate the signing of Safe Schools for All as the latest part of our push-back against the Trump administration’s targeting of our families,” said Lawrence Benito, executive director of ICIRR. “Immigrant communities and allies have organized to ensure our state remains welcoming for all, and today we are proud that Illinois set a new national precedent by becoming the first state in the country to guarantee education for all.”

“If students do not feel safe at school, academic success is a serious uphill battle and in a political climate where immigrant communities are being targeted for increasingly aggressive ICE enforcement, that challenge can feel insurmountable,” said Director of Pre-K-12 Education Policy at the Latino Policy Forum, Erika Méndez. “Fear should not keep children home from school, and today Illinois sent an important message to families that their state and their leaders are with them.”

“The national environment targeting immigrant communities has led to parents and students, immigrant and non-immigrant alike, feeling fearful and anxious about going to school — not only afraid for themselves or their family, but afraid for their classmates and friends,” said Martín Klein, MALDEF legislative staff attorney in Chicago. “This bill challenges the environment of fear targeting our school communities and provides reassurance to parents and students that Illinois schools are safe places for all students, regardless of immigration status.”

ICIRR, Latino Policy Forum, and MALDEF plan to host a press conference alongside Representative Jiménez and Senator Villa to celebrate the signing of Safe Schools for All (HB 3247) on Tuesday, August 19. Additional details are forthcoming.

The new law will:

• Establish first-in-the-nation state law protecting the right to education for all students.

• Prohibit excluding students and their parents from schools and school programs based on immigration status.

• Prohibit school procedures or measures that have the effect of excluding or discouraging students from attending schools and school programs based on immigration status, including requesting a social security number.

• Restrict disclosing and threats to disclose anything related to the immigration status of a child or associated person.

• Protect the integrity of the undisturbed classroom environment for students and school communities by requiring schools to craft procedures for ICE and other law enforcement actions at schools and school facilities.

• Empower families to defend their rights.

About ICIRR

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.

About the Latino Policy Forum

The Latino Policy Forum is the only organization in the Chicago area that facilitates the involvement of Latinos at all levels of public decision-making. The Forum conducts analysis to inform, influence and lead. Its goals are to improve education outcomes, advocate for affordable housing, promote just immigration policies and engage diverse sectors of the community, with an understanding that advancing Latinos advances a shared future. For more information, visit latinopolicyforum.org.

About MALDEF

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization.  Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.