Lake County Gazette

Martin McLaughlin, state representative for Illinois House District 52, expressed concerns over sanctuary policies, stating they put residents at risk by allowing repeat-offense migrants to remain in communities. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Too many innocent Illinoisans harmed by illegal migrants," said Martin J. Mclaughlin, State Representative from Illinois. "Many have had multiple court convictions. They are released into our communities and they hurt and kill our citizens. Sanctuary policies hurt us all."

In May 2025, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker defended the state's sanctuary policies, including the TRUST Act, in response to criticism from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her visit to Springfield. According to Axios, Noem argued that such policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement. In contrast, Pritzker maintained they enhance public safety by fostering trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. This debate underscores Illinois' ongoing role in the national controversy over sanctuary jurisdictions.

According to a 2023 report by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a Chicago-based operation led to the arrest of 44 noncitizen individuals with prior criminal convictions, including charges such as assault and drug offenses. While the operation targeted known offenders, ICE did not provide statewide data on crime rates among undocumented immigrants in Illinois, limiting broader conclusions. The figures underscore enforcement activities but not overall crime trends.

A 2021 report by the Vera Institute of Justice found that sanctuary counties across the U.S. had, on average, 35.5 fewer crimes per 10,000 people compared to non-sanctuary counties. As reported by Vera, the research suggests that jurisdictions limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities may be safer due to stronger community trust and cooperation. These findings challenge assumptions linking sanctuary policies to increased crime.

McLaughlin has been a prominent critic of sanctuary city policies and advocates for stricter immigration enforcement. As reported by the Daily Herald during an October 2024 debate, he also emphasized concerns about Illinois' fiscal mismanagement and pushed for public safety and budgetary reforms. His positions reflect a broader conservative platform on law and governance.