Peoria Standard

U.S. Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois has criticized sanctuary policies implemented by Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, stating that these measures shield criminal immigrants, undermine law enforcement, and endanger communities. LaHood made his statement on the social media platform X.

"Gov Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson's sanctuary policies have shielded criminal illegal immigrants, undermined law enforcement, and endangered our communities," said Darin McKay LaHood, U.S. Representative from Illinois. "It's past time to hold criminals accountable and prioritize the safety of Illinois families."

According to the Illinois Governor’s Office, both Illinois and Chicago have bolstered sanctuary protections under the leadership of Pritzker and Johnson. This includes the 2021 Illinois Way Forward Act signed by Pritzker, which terminated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention contracts and limited local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Additionally, Chicago expanded its Welcoming City Ordinance to prevent police from assisting in civil immigration actions, ensuring access to city services regardless of immigration status. These initiatives aim to protect immigrant communities.

Illinois does not track crime based on immigration status. However, Reuters reported in 2024 that Texas is the only state maintaining such comprehensive data. The analysis revealed that undocumented immigrants in Texas commit crimes, including homicide, at lower rates than U.S.-born individuals. Studies cited by Reuters also indicated that undocumented immigrants generally have lower conviction rates compared to citizens, challenging claims that sanctuary states experience higher crime rates due to immigrants.

A peer-reviewed study published in 2020 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined crime rates in sanctuary jurisdictions and found no measurable increase in violent or property crime. Stanford researcher David Hausman said that sanctuary policies reduced deportations of non-criminal immigrants but did not affect overall crime levels. This suggests that sanctuary measures modify enforcement cooperation without compromising public safety.

LaHood is a Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 16th District, first elected in 2015 after serving as a state senator and federal prosecutor. His official House biography notes his service on the Ways and Means Committee and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, where he focuses on tax, trade, and national security issues. He also advocates for stronger border security and immigration enforcement.