U.S. Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois has expressed concerns over sanctuary city policies in Chicago and Illinois, stating that they undermine citizen protection. He welcomed federal action on immigration enforcement. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Failed sanctuary city policies have resulted in Chicago and the state of Illinois becoming a safe haven for illegal immigrants,” said Darin McKay LaHood, U.S. Representative from Illinois. “If far-left politicians and activist judges aren’t going to protect citizens, the Trump Administration will step in to ensure they aren’t living among our families and friends.”
According to Reuters, Chicago and Illinois’ sanctuary city policies, such as the Welcoming City Ordinance and the statewide TRUST Act, have been subject to federal scrutiny but were upheld by a federal judge in July 2025. This decision reinforced state and local autonomy over immigration enforcement and intensified ongoing legal and policy debates.
Capitol News Illinois reports that Illinois has only two major sanctuary jurisdictions—Chicago and Cook County—while more than a dozen downstate cities and counties have formally rejected sanctuary status. The state is one of just two with laws restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transfers, leading to continued debate over the overall impact on enforcement.
A study by the Vera Institute found that, on average, sanctuary jurisdictions in the U.S. experience 35.5 fewer crimes per 10,000 people compared to non-sanctuary areas. Additionally, there is no evidence of higher violent or property crime rates in Illinois sanctuary cities following the adoption of these policies.
According to his official House profile, LaHood is a Republican U.S. Representative from Illinois’s 16th District since 2023, having previously served the 18th District. His committee assignments include Ways and Means, Intelligence, and the Select Committee on Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party.
