Lake County Gazette

Republican House candidate Marko Sukovic of Lincolnshire has called for more discussions on sanctuary state policies. 

“We have seen victims of people who have come to this country illegally, who have broken the law. Maybe if the law had been changed one way or another it would have actually prevented that tragedy from happening. So, that is a conversation that needs to be had,” Sukovic told the Lake County Gazette.

Sukovic made the comments following an acquittal of illigal immigrant Garcia Zarate in San Francisco who had been charged in the shooting death of Kate Steinle.  Zarate had been deported from the U.S. five times previous to the incident.

“I think we would love to see more conversations happening with law enforcement authorities both federal and local. Also, involving people in the conversation that have been the victim of some of these crimes,” Sukovic said.

In August, Gov. Bruce Rauner paved the way for Illinois to become a sanctuary state by signing the Trust Act, something that Sukovic said he wasn’t sure was the right way to approach the issue.

“I think federal immigration law is there for a reason. We need to make sure that is being enforced,” Sukovic said. “I don’t know 100 percent if the Trust Act was the way to go ahead with that.”

“Certainly we should be involving Republicans and Democrats in that conversation, not just one side,” he added. 

However, not everyone feels the same way.

Recently Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said he believed it was local law enforcement’s responsibility to worry first and foremost about their geographical area.

“I don’t know any local law enforcement (officers) in Illinois at a chief level or a sheriff level that wants to do the federal government’s job,” Curran said during a “Chicago Morning Answer” radio show shortly after the Trust Act was passed. "Chicago's Morning Answer" is co-hosted by Dan Proft, who is a principal in Local Government Information Services, which owns this publication.

Curran also said he didn’t think it was the place of local law enforcement to act as immigration officials. 

“That would undermine our primary responsibility, which is keeping the neighborhoods safe, and in order to do that we have to have effective community policing.”

Sukovic is running in House District 59 against Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills). The district includes Mundelein, Vernon Hills and Wheeling.