CHICAGO- State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is excited to announce the TRUST Act was signed into law today.

“We should be fostering safe communities where a person’s fear of hostility, or having their families torn apart, does not get in the way of public safety, Castro said. “The TRUST Act gives us the tools to put Illinois on the right track, keep families together and build stronger communities."

Senate Bill 31, also known as the TRUST Act, limits local police interaction with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, and rebuilds trust between police and immigrant communities.

“Police should focus keeping our neighborhoods safe, not enforcing immigration laws,” Castro said. “A person in the shadows often will not come forward to report crimes against themselves or others because they fear their immigration status may be exposed. When someone’s fear gets in the way of cooperation, our communities become less safe.”

The TRUST Act prohibits law enforcement agencies from engaging in immigration enforcement unless a warrant issued by a judge is presented, bans detaining a person based on their immigration status and forbids the use of any state or local resources to help create a federal registry based on race, national origin, religion or other protected classes.

Senate Bill 31 passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support.  This new law goes into effect immediately.