Dupage Policy Journal

Stephanie Trussell, a candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives District 42, has called on Democrats to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement against gangs involved in gun trafficking. She also questioned the effectiveness of state spending on violence prevention. Trussell made these remarks on X.

"Democrats say they want to remove guns from the streets," said Trussell. "Shouldn't they welcome the ICE agents who target gangs trafficking guns? Illinois spends $100 million annually on violence prevention. Make Illinois Safe Again."

Illinois has increased its investments in violence prevention through the Reimagine Public Safety Act, allocating $250 million for the 2024–2025 period towards trauma-informed programs and a statewide Peacekeeper model. The Illinois Governor’s Office reported significant reductions in shootings within targeted communities, positioning this initiative as a key element of public safety policy.

A federal-local enforcement effort in 2025 underscored the extent of trafficking issues. The U.S. Attorney, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chicago Police announced that 41 arrests were made, 171 firearms seized, and 64 machine-gun conversion devices recovered during a two-month operation. Many of these weapons were linked to violent crimes using National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) technology, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Evaluations indicate that Illinois’ Peacekeeper program has led to significant reductions in shootings in Chicago and Cook County. Similarly, California’s California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) grants have achieved comparable results in targeted cities. Both states illustrate that focused community violence intervention programs can effectively reduce gun violence, according to WTTW.

Trussell, a Republican who was the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor of Illinois in 2022 before running for the state House in District 42, is known for her focus on parental rights, education reform, and fiscal conservatism during her campaigns, as noted by Ballotpedia.