Dupage Policy Journal

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) took part in blocking a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to serve as student trustees at the University of Illinois.

“What you do have here is undocumented, illegal or otherwise noncitizen students who would be allowed to sit in a student trustee slot at our major universities,” Ives argued during House debate on the measure. “I have a problem with this, my constituents have a problem with this, and every member of this body should have a problem with having someone who is not a legal resident of the United States sitting as a student trustee [at] one of our public universities.

Senate Bill 598, sponsored by Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago), was approved by the Senate in April but met more resistance in the House.

“I find it outrageous, quite frankly, that you would bring forward this bill once again,” Ives said, referring to a similar measure that Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed last year.

The bill did not receive enough House votes to pass and was placed on the calendar for postponed consideration.