SPRINGFIELD – Following the passage of Senate Bill 2111, a bicameral transit reform package, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes released the following statement:

“Whether it’s Metra, Pace, or the CTA, my community members utilize transit every day to get where they need to go. I returned to Springfield committed to passing a solution to the transit fiscal cliff so my constituents’ daily routines could go on uninterrupted and without cuts to essential stations or bus stops.

“Not only does our agreement maintain all current stops, it does not raise taxes on Illinoisans or fares for commuters. This is a massive win for working families who utilize our transit system as an affordable method of transportation.

“I look forward to seeing how this intergenerational investment will transform our transit system.” 

SPRINGFIELD – In the face of constant raids from federal agents on Latino individuals in Chicagoland, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes voted to pass legislation that establishes that certain areas, like daycares, hospitals, courthouses, and more, cannot be subject to unregulated federal agent intervention, allowing residents to patronize these essential locations without fear.

“People who look like me don’t feel safe picking their children up from school or going to the doctor because they could be targeted by federal agents, whether they are a citizen or not,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This is deeply concerning and inhumane treatment of people under the guise of law and order. It is chaos and fear, and I am grateful we are taking action to make people feel safer when they need to visit sensitive locations.” 

House Bill 1312 would allow Illinois residents to bring civil actions against any person who deprives them of their constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, or Section 2 or Section 6 of Article 1 of the Illinois Constitution.

The bill would establish enhanced punitive damages for particularly egregious conduct, such as concealing identity with masks, failing to identify as law enforcement, not using body cameras, or deploying crowd-control weapons. It also would strengthen the Illinois Whistleblower Act to protect those who report violations and creates a 1,000-foot safe zone around courthouses with significant penalties for violations, including $10,000 in statutory damages.

SPRINGFIELD – At a time when immigrant workers are facing unprecedented surveillance and discrimination, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes is fighting to protect employees from unfair retaliation from their workplace through new legislation.

“Every employee makes mistakes, especially when filling out confusing, lengthy paperwork,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “It is unfair to hold immigrant employees to a wholly different standard where making such a mistake can result in them losing their job. As many immigrants are more afraid of losing work because of their immigration status than ever before due to the current political climate, I am proud to be making one element of their lives less anxiety-inducing through this legislation.”

Federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through an online system that compares information from an employee’s I-9 Form to records available to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility. If discrepancies are found, immigrant workers have the possibility of receiving a “no match” letter for a variety of reasons, including instances where the individual changed their name due to marriage. Many employers terminate employees upon receiving this notice, even though they could be legally working in the United States.

Last year, Cervantes passed legislation that requires employers to give employees time to correct documentation discrepancies, and bar employers from taking any adverse action against the employee because of a discrepancy. His new initiative would ensure employees’ rights are protected if an employer has received notice of document discrepancies, including the right to be free from adverse action solely because of a receipt of a discrepancy notice from a federal entity. It also would establish a procedure to resolve violations of these protections, and would create pathway for the employee to take legal action against the employer should these rights be violated.

CHICAGO – Nearly two million Illinois residents rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to provide basic nutrition for themselves and their families, leading State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes to urge federal lawmakers to resolve the ongoing government shutdown to prevent the cessation of SNAP benefits come Nov. 1.

“I am deeply concerned for how the loss of SNAP benefits will impact families and children in my community,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “It is appalling that millions are at risk of going hungry due to partisan disagreements on the federal level.”

SNAP provides critical support for children, seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities, offering the nutrition they need to live healthy, productive lives. The federal government shutdown threatens to halt these benefits immediately, putting millions at risk of food insecurity – including the 38,912 people in the district Cervantes represents who rely on SNAP benefits.