SEIU Illinois State Council Endorses ICIRR’s S.A.L.T. Platform to Protect Illinois Residents from ICE Aggression
SEIU IL Council members are set to talk to legislators in their district and journey to Springfield during the veto session to make their voices heard
The SEIU Illinois State Council endorses the immediate passage of the S.A.L.T. Platform proposed by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) as a crucial step needed to protect Illinois residents from the aggressive and unjust tactics being employed by ICE across the state. The SEIU Illinois Council marched and rallied in one of the largest days of action in U.S. history, with more than 250,000 people flooding the streets of Chicago and over 8 million nationwide marching under one message: No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings. We are building off that momentum and fighting for real transformational change in our communities – that is why we are proud to support S.A.L.T.
The proposed S.A.L.T. measures would reinstate our state’s courthouses, hospitals, and schools as safe spaces. As it is, far too many residents have reason to fear seeking out medical care, engaging in the justice system, and even pursuing education.
“Safe access to health care is an absolute right,” said Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Illinois State Council and of SEIU Healthcare Illinois. “Every Illinois resident has the right to seek out urgent health care for themselves and their family members without the fear of being targeted and possibly detained by ICE agents. It is absolutely unacceptable to put up barriers to essential care. Nor is it acceptable to prevent Illinois residents from being able to safely participate in the justice or education systems. By passing these protective measures, Illinois lawmakers will be standing up for our values as a state—values that are our best defense against the incoming attacks on our communities.”
"The MAGA regime is abducting our neighbors from courtrooms, hospitals, and outside schools — assaulting the core freedoms we value as Americans. This regime believes they can rule over us for their billionaire backers and bully, bankrupt, or disappear anyone who does not look, think, or pray like them. Every person who values our freedoms must demand an immediate end to these abductions and that all of our community members be returned home. SEIU Local 73 is calling on the Illinois legislature to pass the S.A.L.T. platform proposed by ICIRR to protect everyone in Illinois," said Dian Palmer, President of SEIU Local 73.
“Every person, no matter their race, zip code, or immigration status, deserves to live without fear. What we’re seeing from the Trump administration right now is state-sanctioned violence meant to divide and dehumanize our communities. ICE raids in our neighborhoods and National Guard threats in our streets do not make us safer; they tear families apart and spread terror among working people who keep this state running and desirable. SEIU Local 1 proudly stands with ICIRR and immigrant communities across Illinois in demanding that our lawmakers pass the S.A.L.T. platform to protect Illinoisans in their daily lives,” said Genie Kastrup, President of SEIU Local 1.
The SEIU Illinois State Council – made up of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, SEIU Local 73, and SEIU Local 1 – represents over 160,000 members who power a wide variety of industries across the state, including janitors, healthcare workers, childcare workers, private and public employees, all banding together to fight back against attacks on working families. Working people are the backbone of our state, and we are building a future for workers, by workers.