CHICAGO  – Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed two laws Tuesday that are aimed at protecting child immigrants in Illinois, including those whose parents are deported.

Pritzker claims that President Donald Trump’s administration has “demonized” immigrants and the new laws will help protect them.

One law extends to two years the amount of time a child can have a short-term guardian if their parents are detained or deported by federal immigration authorities.

The other is intended to help young immigrants seeking special visas as victims of abuse or neglect. The law authorizes juvenile, family and adoption courts to move forward with and grant a petition for what’s called special immigrant juvenile status.

Pritzker claims that President Donald Trump’s administration has “demonized” immigrants and the new laws will help protect them.

 

photo credit : JB Pritzker Facebook page. photo at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago