SPRINGFIELD – Advocating for immigrant employees, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes’ new law will protect marginalized workers from unfair enforcement action during their employment.

“Many immigrant employees have run into a problem where their documentation may have misinput their name with slight differences of dashes, spaces, letters with or without an accent, only to be flagged during the work verification process,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “With this law, we can correct bureaucratic errors that would otherwise be detrimental to their income and livelihoods. By adjusting the system to allow workers more time to correct issues with documentation, we can make a huge impact for marginalized workers across Illinois.”

Federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through the E-Verify system. E-Verify 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.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Cervantes is making it easier to cancel unwanted gym memberships thanks a new law that will streamline how people can cancel a contract.

“This will prevent automatically renewing payments from sticking with consumers after they have moved and may no longer use the service,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “We want to modernize business practices and give residents an easier way to cancel their gym subscriptions.”

Under the new law, businesses offering physical fitness services, like gym memberships, would have to allow customers to cancel their contract either online or by email, instead of only by mail or in-person. 

CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Cervantes released the following statement after President Joe Biden took executive action Tuesday to expand parole, extend a path to residency for noncitizen minors, and provide eligible immigrants with an avenue to gain work authorization:

“A new pathway to work authorization will allow eligible immigrants across Illinois to find consistency in their lives and provide for their families.

“The plan will also give spouses of U.S. citizens a better pathway to permanent residency, give DACA recipients more opportunities to work, and allow immigrant residents to access jobs that will bring consistency to their lives here.

“I am proud to stand alongside immigrant families who are desperate to work and contribute fully to our economy, and I look forward to the opportunities this will bring to residents living in Illinois and beyond.”

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SPRINGFIELD – After the Illinois Senate approved the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and tax relief that will offer support for families, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“Residents are struggling with rising costs across Illinois, which is why this year’s budget invests in a new child tax credit for low-income families. This will continue to offer relief for parents who are struggling to afford basic necessities and help provide them with more financial flexibility in their everyday budget.

“I am proud of my partnership with HOPE Chicago and I am excited to see $8 million go toward their initiative to help folks looking at higher education find new pathways through debt-free schooling opportunities. This will make higher education more accessible for families throughout our community.

“I am also grateful for the budget’s allocations to community violence prevention programs that assist residents with de-escalating and addressing the root causes of crime. I look forward to seeing investments into community development projects that will improve the quality of life of our residents and help continue the growth and prosperity of the 1^st District.

“With funding for public safety, safety net hospitals, mental health resources and educational opportunities, we are incorporating the needs of diverse communities across the state into the budget. With these investments, Illinois will continue to support communities through this budget and make sure they have our support.”

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