CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor Pritzker told immigrant reform advocates on Thursday he supports what they want.
"If you’re ready for citizenship for all, make some noise!"
Several hundred people rallied Thursday outside the Thompson Center in a push for immigration reform legislation. Governor Pritzker was among the speakers.
“In Illinois, all our families deserve to feel safe and secure,” Pritzker said during his speech. “I commit to you that my administration will continue working with ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights) and with the Latino caucus and all of the ICIRR coalition to ensure that the Illinois Way Forward Act is signed into law. Our moment is now, we need to get things done now.”
Pritzker told the crowd he intends to sign into law the Illinois Way Forward Act. It would forbid federal immigration officials from using county jails to house people who are on their way to being deported.
"Illinois is on the cusp of becoming the third state in the entire nation to end state detention contracts with ICE," Pritzker said.
"I remain committed to build upon our efforts, so that immigrants and refugees in Illinois have equal participation in all parts of our diverse state."
And Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky said the United States government has to stop separating families.
“We have to stop the deportations,” Schakowsky said on the stage. “We have to end the detention. We have to stop separating families.”
Immigration reform advocates said it’s time to put immigrants on a path to citizenship in the United States.
"I am tired of waiting for the right moment….How much longer must we wait? ?Quanto tiempo mas temenos espira? The last time there was a pathway to citizenship in this country was 35 years ago," said Elizabeth Cervantes, of the Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project.
The crowd then marched from the Thompson Center to Federal Plaza chanting, “Abolish ICE,” and “Power to the people.”
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