SPRINGFIELD – Amid alleged due process violations and changing immigration policies, State Senator Omar Aquino championed a new law to secure representation for non-citizen Cook County residents undergoing immigration proceedings.

"As federal immigration policies continue to shift, it is our responsibility to ensure immigrant communities are not left without access to legal counsel. No family should face uncertainty alone,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “We are committed to maintaining reliable, accessible legal support, regardless of changes at the federal level. Stability and justice must remain a constant in our communities."

The new law expands the jurisdiction of the Cook County Public Defender to represent non-citizen Cook County residents in immigration cases arising or being heard outside of the county. The law also allows the county board to authorize representation by the public defender beyond those limits.

"Everyone deserves a fair and just legal process, no matter their immigration status. By expanding the jurisdiction of the Cook County Public Defender, we are strengthening the right to due process for all our residents,” said Aquino. “Illinois is a welcoming state, and we will not turn our backs on the people who call it home."

House Bill 2436 was signed into law Friday and is effective immediately.

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