Lake County Gazette

Denise Rothmeier adamantly opposed SB31.

The founder of Mothers on a Mission to Stop Violence told The Lake County Gazette that she was disappointed by the support Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), board member of A Safe Place, and Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake), board member of Mano A Mano Family Resource Center, gave to the bill that stops state law enforcement officers from becoming involved with immigration matters unless they have a warrant.  

The Lake County Gazette reported on the story in June.

Denise Rothmeier, founder of Mothers on a Mission to Stop Violence

“Rep. Sam Yingling put the constituents of the 62nd District and the state of Illinois at risk of becoming victimized by criminal illegal aliens who are released back into our community without fear of being deported or suffering from the consequences of their crime(s),” Rothmeier said in an email.

The Campaign for a Welcoming Illinois garnered 3,600 postcards in three weeks and elicited thousands of calls to Gov. Bruce Rauner in support of the bill, which passed both houses of the General Assembly and then was signed into law on Aug. 28.

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) said in a press release that "a last minute amendment to the bill attempted to address the concerns of law enforcement groups, whose primary concern is public safety, but fell short.” 

Rothmeier joined the Illinois State Police, Fraternal Order of Police, Illinois Sheriffs' Association and Illinois Department of Corrections in opposing the bill in its original form. 

 “If you enter our country illegally, and you rape or murder an individual, do not fear being deported because Rep. Yingling will prevent law enforcement from informing ICE of your release date," she said. "Therefore, after you serve your time you can be released and 'welcomed' back into the community."

Rothmeier said Bush looked the other way as far as public safety is concerned in supporting Kate's Law, federal legislation that would increase the punishment for deported aliens who attempt to re-enter the United States.

“A Safe Place lobbied to oppose Kate’s Law because they would lose funding," she said."Therefore, if sanctuary cities were to be abolished, so too would the funding that A Safe Place receives. Establishing sanctuary cities or a sanctuary state would also establish funding for both Mano A Mano and A Safe Place."

Rothmeier said the bill is an "insult" to sexual violence survivors who were attacked by illegal aliens. 

“I cannot in good conscience support policy that puts crime victims at further risk of becoming victimized by the system,” she said. “The House and Senate bills that were filed both died and were never voted on in committee. Yet SB31 was filed and voted on in committee to provide legal representation to criminal illegal aliens and even went a step further by giving criminal illegal aliens a right to sue law enforcement."