SPRINGFIELD - Those that have suffered the loss of family members at the hands of non-citizens in the country illegally were categorically denied calls from Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner before he signed a controversial immigration law into effect Monday.
Three of them conveyed their disappointment to Illinois Review after the bill signing.
Brian McCann, whose brother Dennis was killed when a drunk illegal alien ran over him crossing the street in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, was especially disappointed. Dennis' killer was released from Chicago Police detainment after he posted a $25,000 bond. The killer is now living in Mexico, yet to be punished for the crime.
Governor Bruce Rauner told reporters at the bill signing he didn't know anything about the families that wanted to speak with him. McCann was told that his cell and phone numbers were on the governor's call list a week before the signing. McCann never heard from the governor.
"Insult to injury continues," McCann told Fox News' Mike Tobin. "They know better. This is an issue of safety."
Dan Rosenberg's son Drew was killed while riding his motorcycle in San Francisco seven years ago. He, too expressed disappointment with Rauner's lack of interest in hearing from victims' families.
"This is just another example of a less-than public servant caring more about the potential votes he thinks he will get protecting illegal aliens at the expense of law abiding Illinoisans," Rosenberg told Illinois Review. "Rauner promised to meet with some of the families who were victims of illegal aliens on national television and then refused. A lousy governor and a liar."
Eric Brady's wife Jeannie of Mahomet, IL was killed January 1, 2017 by a Guatemalan in the country illegally who was driving with an alcohol level three times the legal amount. He told Illinois Review he was very disappointed in the new law.
"I find this to be terribly disappointing. It's embarrassing to the honest Illinoisans, who work hard and care about the safety of their fellow Americans," Brady said. "It continues to underscore that the leadership of this State has no interest in the citizens it's sworn to serve. It proves once again that there is no fiscal responsibility in Springfield."
The new law will mean those in the country illegally will be protected while citizens are exposed to safety risks.
"Most tragically, [the new law] will continue to allow criminals, like Esteban Tomas, the man who killed my wife, to operate above the laws that citizens are expected to adhere to," Brady said. "My heart goes out to the next husband to lose a wife, the next parent to lose a child, the new brother to lose their sibling. I will be praying for them."
Legal immigrant Sabine Durden's son Dominic was killed by an illegal alien who had been convicted twice of driving drunk. The Guatemalan national was punished with just 90 days in jail.
"It breaks my heart to see how once again, cheap labor and votes are more important than the citizens and legal immigrants of Illinois," Durden said.
She said it was shameful of the governor to claim on tv "to make himself look compassionate" that he would meet with the victims families, and never give them "a minute of his time."
Illinois Governor Rauner firmly stated at the bill signing that law officials have told him SB 31 will make their job easier and the public safer.
Other Illinois Review stories on Illinois' new immigration policy:
-
ILLINOIS' NEW IMMIGRATION BILL ALREADY AFFECTING RELEASE OF DANGEROUS CRIMINALS IN US ILLEGALLY
- WHAT THE IL GOP PLATFORM SAYS ABOUT IMMIGRATION
- UPDATE 2X: NOW SIX IL GOP LAWMAKERS FILE EFFORT TO REPEAL SANCTUARY LAW
- RAUNER & TRUST ACT FEATURED ON NATIONAL FOX NEWS
- IL GOP WARNS NOT TO BELIEVE "MISINFORMATION" CIRCULATING ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAW
- NATIONAL WATCHDOG GROUP FILES FOIA REQUEST OF GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON IMMIGRATION BILL
- GOVERNOR EXPLAINS WHY HE SIGNED IMMIGRATION BILL
- IL GOP SUPPORTS RAUNER SIGNING MEASURE TO BAN STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT'S COOPERATION WITH ICE
- GOVERNOR RAUNER TO SIGN SB 31 "TRUST ACT" MONDAY MORNING
