Executive Order Number 19-7

Executive Order Number 07-19

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2019-07

EXECUTIVE ORDER STRENGTHENING OUR COMMITMENT TO IMMIGRANTS,

REFUGEES, AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

WHEREAS, the State of Illinois is home to 1.8 million immigrants who have chosen to live here and raise their families here; and

WHEREAS, immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are a critical to the fabric of our State, contributing the culture and economy that make Illinois a great place to live; and

WHEREAS,  Illinois government should, in good faith, enter and execute contracts with community-based providers of services that give immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers the tools they need to build good lives and contribute to the community; and

WHEREAS,  the concept of separating children from their families is repugnant to the values that the people of the State of Illinois hold dear, and the State of Illinois is committed to advocating for the swift unification of separated families; and

WHEREAS,  every day children cross the border alone without family fleeing violence and are unaccompanied; the State of Illinois advocates for their safe shelter in child welfare institutions until such date as they can be united with a family member in the United States; and

WHEREAS,   all State agencies who interact with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers should seek to ensure that they are welcome to this State, as well as actively engage them to be sure they are aware of their rights and social and economic opportunities; and

THEREFORE,  I, JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, by virtue of the executive authority vested in me by Article V of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, hereby order as follows:

The Department of Human Services shall, within 90 days of the effective date of this Executive Order, deliver a report to the Office of the Governor containing:

           a.   a comprehensive review of contracts with community-based welcoming centers to determine whether all dollars appropriated by the legislature in the FYI 9 budget are being utilized for their intended purpose, and whether all appropriated dollars will be used for such purposes and

           b.   a plan to remedy any failures to direct appropriated funds to welcoming centers.

     II. State Agencies Shall Inform Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers of their Rights and Opportunities

Within 120 days, the Department of Human Services shall coordinate with other State agencies as needed to deliver a report to the Office of the Governor containing:

          a.   a "Know Your Rights" resource sheet in multiple languages describing the human and civil rights, social opportunity, and economic opportunity available to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Illinois and

          b.   a plan for State agencies to proactively disseminate the "Know Your Rights" resource sheet to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

     III. Savings Clause

Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to contravene any federal or State law or regulation. Nothing in this Executive Order shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency or be construed as a reassignment or reorganization of any State agency.

     IV. Prior Executive Orders

This Executive Order supersedes any contrary provision of any other prior Executive Order.

     V. Severability Clause

If any part of this Executive Order is fund to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The provisions of this Executive Order are severable.

     VI. Effective Date

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State.

_____________________________

JB Pritzker, Governor

Issued by Governor: January 24, 2019
Filed with Secretary of State: January _, 2019