Our 9th Annual Illinois Muslim Action Day is tomorrow, April 27! We thank everyone who registered for IMAD and look forward to seeing you in Springfield. Since 2009, CIOGC has provided the greater Chicago Muslim community the opportunity to engage with Illinois legislators in a meaningful way through Illinois Muslim Action Day (IMAD).
Every year since 2009, CIOGC has provided the greater Chicago Muslim community the opportunity to engage with Illinois legislators in a meaningful way through IMAD. This year’s legislative agenda, as with previous years, is important to not only the Muslim community but the greater Illinois community.
This year, CIOGC’s legislative agenda includes:
• Combating Hate Crimes (HB3711)
• Defending Religious Freedom in the Workplace (SB1697)
• Expanding Safe Zones for Immigrants (HB0426)
• Ensuring Police Accountability Practices (SB0058)
• Illinois Trust Act (SB0031/HB3099)
April 25 will be a very important day for CIOGC as three of the five bills we are supporting will have readings. The Religious Garb Bill (SB1697) and Combating Hate Crimes (HB3711) will have their third reading, while Ensuring Police Accountability Practices, (SB0058) will have its second reading.
The Illinois Trust Act (SB0031/HB3099) was placed on third reading in the Senate but no reading date has been assigned. In the House, it was referred to the Rules Committee on March 31. The Immigrant Safe Zones Act (HB0426) was placed on calendar order of second reading in early February.
The Trust Act contains several provisions that would affect immigration policy in Illinois, including the expansion of “safe zones” for immigrants (areas where individuals cannot be questioned regarding their immigration status or arrested without a warrant), would establish a standardized visa application process for immigrants residing in Illinois illegally, and would bar the formation of any registry based on religion or national origin – a provision specifically included to preemptively prevent the formation of a “Muslim registry.” The Trust act will soon be merged with the Immigrant Safe Zones Bill (HB0426) as indicated by Senator John J. Cullerton who is the chief sponsor of SB0031.