SPRINGFIELD – To protect the wellbeing of immigrant communities, State Senator Celina Villanueva passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force.

“We need this task force in order to determine where relief efforts have fallen short for immigrant communities,” Villanueva said. “We must address the systemic disinvestment in our area and build a recovery that benefits all Illinoisans, regardless of status.”

The legislation would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force, which ended at the start of 2021. The task force would examine where the state can improve relations and services in immigrant communities, the impact of the pandemic, disbursement of funds to immigrant communities, practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state among other issues.

The task force would consist of 28 members, including representatives from the Departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Education, Human Services and Juvenile Justice. Community-based organizations that serve immigrant populations would also be represented in the task force.

The legislation, Senate Bill 2665, passed the Illinois Senate and awaits consideration in the Illinois House.