SPRINGFIELD — Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) issued the following statement today after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order strengthening the state’s commitment to welcoming immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers:

“Our country was founded by immigrants who came here looking to build a better life for themselves and their families. We would not be where we are today if it were not for the contributions they made and continue to make to our society.

“Welcoming immigrants, particularly those fleeing danger like refugees and asylum seekers, is at the core of our American values. Officials at the federal level, including the president, seem to have forgotten that. I’m glad we in Illinois still remember what our country is about.”

Dear friends,

I am happy to announce that Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday signed legislation requiring gun dealers to be certified by the state into law.

I was the chief co-sponsor of this legislation in the Senate, and I have worked with its sponsor, Senator Don Harmon, for years to hold the handful of unethical gun dealers in our state accountable and keep illegal guns off our streets.

The Chicago Police 2017 Gun Trace Report found that almost 20 percent of guns used in crimes in Chicago could be traced back to a handful of suburban gun dealers. This new law will crack down on straw purchases while still protecting law-abiding gun owners’ rights.

I am proud to have supported this legislation through the Senate and am thankful to the governor for signing it into law. Gun violence is a complicated problem, however, and it will not be fixed with one new law. I will continue to work in the Senate to pass legislation to curb gun violence and keep our communities safe.

If you have any questions about this or any other legislation, please send me an email or call my district office at (773) 278-2020.

Sincerely,

Senator Iris Y. Martinez
Assistant Majority Leader, 20th Senate District

SPRINGFIELD — Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the VOICES Act:

“This legislation should have been easy for any governor to sign.

“What it does is simple – it helps people who are fleeing violence and human trafficking get to a safe place. Beyond that, it helps our law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute those crimes by empowering victims to work with police.

“Everyone deserves justice, no matter their skin color or their immigration status. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and I am glad we were able to override the governor’s politically motivated veto.”

CHICAGO — Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez issued the following statement today on President Trump’s desire to end birthright citizenship by executive order:

“This is just another example of the president saying something outrageous to drum up support. The president alone does not have the authority to override the Constitution. He knows this, and yet he is once again stoking fear and division.

“What he is proposing is not only unconstitutional, it is un-American. At its core, America is about welcoming people and giving them a chance at a better life. We must continue to fight this racist rhetoric and ensure the immigrant families in our state know they are welcome.”