(Photo Courtesy JB Pritzker Facebook page)
CHICAGO – Illinois is the second state in the US to enact the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act following California in 2017.
Governor JB Pritzker passed the act into law protecting immigrants from harassment or threats from landlords.
Specifically, the law allows the tenants to seek civil action if a landlord evicts them due to their immigration status. Landlords are also prohibited from threatening to reveal an individual’s citizenship status to any person, entity, or immigration or law enforcement agency.
“I’m proud that in signing this bill, we’re making Illinois the first state in the Midwest to protect our immigrant tenants and give them a little more relief in these tumultuous times,” explained Pritzker.
Governor Pritzker emphasized Illinois as a welcoming state as he signed the act.
Executive Director of the Latino Policy Forum, Sylvia Puente, emphasizes the importance of Illinois being an example to other states through this act.
“Thank you, Governor, for ensuring that Illinois remains a state where people can feel safe in their homes and a state where we create just laws,” said Puente.
The Immigrant Tenant Protection Act is to take effect immediately to offer protection to tenants.