Illinois lawmaker pushes DHS overhaul after raid on Omar’s home

Illinois Rep. Delia C. Ramirez is seeking to replace the Department of Homeland Security with a proposed Department of Community Safety through legislation introduced to restructure immigration enforcement and redistribute DHS responsibilities among other federal agencies.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - The raid on the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is underscoring an Illinois lawmaker’s push to replace the Department of Homeland Security with a new agency she said would better protect the American people.

Rep. Delia C. Ramirez, D-Ill., has formally introduced the Reimagining Safety Act. It would create a Department of Community Safety she argued would preserve critical security functions while overhauling immigration enforcement. Ramirez called the recent raid on Omar’s home "bone-chilling" and stressed DHS has increasingly put public safety at risk through surveillance and abuses of power, with little accountability.

"Targeting a sitting member of Congress who the president considers his political enemy – this should concern everyone, because if they can do this to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, they can do it to any of us," Ramirez contended.

The 71-page bill outlines how the new agency would redirect DHS funds and responsibilities to other departments. In the legislation, ICE and Customs and Border Protection would be abolished in their current forms and replaced by establishing a separate civil immigration system.

The measure faces opposition from Republicans and the Trump administration, who argued dismantling DHS and replacing ICE would weaken protections for the American people.

Ramirez countered her constituents and many people across the country do not feel safe and she is trying to change it. She underscored her plan preserves and redistributes critical DHS responsibilities, rather than eliminating them, and would shift more resources toward communities affected by enforcement, limiting government surveillance and militarized policing.

"The biggest threat to the homeland right now is the Department of Homeland Security. And if we're truly concerned about national security, we have to dismantle DHS," Ramirez emphasized.

The bill has a handful of cosponsors. Ramirez acknowledged it faces long odds in a Republican-controlled Congress but suggested a DHS overhaul is overdue.

"A lot of the people, for some reason, believe that this agency won't harm them. Fascism always requires a public enemy. Today, they say it's immigrants, protesters, young people, trans children. Tomorrow, it's anyone they deem," Ramirez asserted. "With what happened with Congresswoman Omar, it became more real than ever before."

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TAGGED: Illinois lawmaker Reimagining Safety Act DHS overhaul, Delia Ramirez bill to replace Department of Homeland Security,Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez DHS replacement legislation, Delia Ramirez introduces legislation to replace ICE and CBP

Latino advocates mobilize voters ahead of historic CPS election in Illinois

Almost 50% of CPS students are Latino. Outreach efforts are being offered to help Latino and immigrant residents who fear voting in-person due recent immigration enforcement.

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Image: KP Yamu Jayanath/Pixabay

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - As Chicago voters prepare to elect every member of the city’s Board of Education for the first time this November, Latino advocates are working to ensure their communities have a voice in shaping Chicago Public Schools.

Nearly 50% of Chicago Public Schools students are Latino.

Roberto Valdez Jr., Midwest regional director for the Hispanic Federation, said language barriers and a lack of culturally relevant voter information can make it harder for some Spanish-speaking families to learn about the candidates who will shape their schools. He pointed out the federation's nonpartisan Midwest initiative, called “La Voz de Mi Gente,” is working to provide appropriate voting information. Many residents, particularly first-time voters, may not realize how much local elections can affect them.

“If you are a parent, this board will be making decisions for your children that can have a very critical impact. And even for those who don't have children in Chicago Public Schools, you have neighbors who do, so there is really a community stake in this,” Valdez explained.

He stressed the goal is to make voting information accessible to Latino and immigrant communities in Chicago. Residents can register to vote up until the Nov. 3 election and early voting has already begun. People can learn more at ChicagoElections.gov.

The outreach efforts come as some Latino and immigrant residents fear voting in-person amid heightened federal immigration enforcement. Valdez noted trusted community partners are trained to share information on legal rights, while the organization addresses other barriers like confusion over school board districts.

“We're not just speaking Spanish but if it is a predominantly Puerto Rican community, we're using verbiage that is very familiar to the Puerto Rican community. Same goes with the Southwest side, where the majority are of Mexican background and so folks are able to see that it is language that they can feel comfortable with,” Valdez emphasized.

Valdez added his organization is also helping voters understand early and mail-in voting options and encouraged them to check their registration and make a voting plan at TurboVote.org. The elected school board will take office in January 2027.

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TAGGED: Latino advocates helping immigrants vote, nearly half of Chicago Public School students are Latino, Hispanic Federation making it easier to learn about candidates, many Latino and immigrant voters are afraid to vote in-person, organization shares legal rights to Hispanic and Latino voters

73% support Democrats' affordability agenda as costs remain high

Rising grocery, housing and health care costs remain a concern for Americans, with a September survey finding that 60% want President Donald Trump and Congress to prioritize affordability.

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by Teri Dee
Public News Service

INDIANAPOLIS - Political pundits paint Indiana as a traditionally red state but Hoosiers and much of the nation are focusing on another color: green.

Consumers said they remain burdened by high grocery, housing and healthcare costs, and worry about paying their home heating bills as winter approaches. A Navigator Research survey from September revealed 60% of Americans want President Donald Trump and Congress’ unwavering attention on affordability and lowering common expenses.

Chris Fleming, spokesperson for the group Americans for Affordability, said people are just trying to stay afloat.

"Everyone is talking about how expensive things are and how they're having to make choices on whether or not they're going to buy a certain meal for dinner or are they going to put gas in their car all the way," Fleming observed.

The survey showed Americans’ dwindling faith in the rollout of Trump’s 2024 campaign pledges to enrich consumers through tariffs and tax cuts. Respondents said one reason behind the lack of confidence is last year's federal mega-bill and associated cuts to social programs, along with a less than ideal environment for jobs and the economy. The Indiana Business Review reported the state’s labor force grew less than 1% this year and unemployment could reach 4.5% next year.

In Indiana, one candidate is looking to change political history. Democrat Beau Bayh is running to become the next Indiana secretary of state, an office Republicans have held since 1994.

Tina Tang, director of polling and analytics for Navigator Research, explained what is holding people back from fully embracing change.

"The top reason was actually they don't trust Democrats to deliver, or there's not enough information yet on the agenda," Tang explained. "Some of the top pieces of opposition here isn't necessarily because 16% of Americans are opposed to lowering costs, it's that they don't trust leadership to be able to deliver this agenda."

Among poll respondents, 73% support Democrats’ affordability agenda, while 25% oppose it or are unsure. Despite widespread support for Democrats' affordability agenda, only around 54% said they believe there is a chance it will be implemented in the next few years. Despite Democrats’ trust advantage on costs, the poll noted many people’s distrust of either political party could be a hindrance to party dominance.

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New pouches make it harder to detect kids using nicotine products

Youth vaping among young people is at its lowest level in nearly a decade, but experts say other nicotine products are creating new challenges for parents and educators.

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Photo: Zhine Pics/PEXELS

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - Young people in Illinois are navigating more than just vaping when it comes to nicotine and experts said the changing landscape can make use harder to detect.

Youth vaping is at its lowest level in nearly a decade but more than 1.4 million middle and high school students nationwide still vape.

Kristen Tertzakian, vice president of development and partnerships for the nonprofit public health organization Truth Initiative, said illegal flavored disposable vapes remain popular, while discreet, high-nicotine pouches are gaining ground.

"Students could be vaping in the classroom, take a puff, the teacher doesn't see it," Terzakian explained. "They may be using products in the bathroom, and certainly with oral nicotine pouches, they may be using them, and a parent and educator would have no idea."

Terzakian pointed out using multiple products can increase nicotine exposure and addiction risk and affect developing brains, including effects on attention span, learning, mood and impulse control. She encouraged parents to have open and ongoing conversations about nicotine and its risks.

Illinois has recently expanded its tobacco tax to cover nicotine pouches and settled a case involving Posh, a best-selling disposable vape brand. Cook County also launched a youth vaping campaign this summer to bring vaping-prevention education into schools and communities.

Terzakian stressed while schools should have and follow tobacco and nicotine policies, she urged educators to recognize how addictive nicotine is and how much the products are marketed to young people.

"We don't necessarily want to punish students, we want to help them quit and give them the resources to quit in a very judgment-free way," Terzakian emphasized.

Truth Initiative offers free digital resources including Vaping: Know the Truth for students and educators and its confidential EX Program for quitting, developed with Mayo Clinic for people age 13 and older. It supports quitting through personalized plans, text messages and an online support community. Students can enroll by texting NIC-BREAK to 88709.

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TAGGED: Illinois youth vaping concerns, nicotine pouches and young people, youth nicotine use in Illinois, vaping prevention for students, nicotine addiction among teens

The 'chilling effect' of ICE activity near farms may eventually hurt American consumers

Farmers around the country are worried that ICE enforcement may keep employees from showing up and ultimately seeing harvest rot in fields due to resulting understaffing. It could mean even higher prices in the grocery store.

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Photo: Mark Stebnicki/PEXELS

An estimated 15,000–20,000 seasonal agricultural workers go to Minnesota during the peak harvesting season, according to the National institutes of Health. Farm operations could suffer because of ICE enforcement efforts.

by Mike Moen
Public News Service

CHICAGO - With the fall harvest here, farmers who hire immigrant workers might still be worried about ICE enforcement deterring their employees from showing up. A farm law expert in Minnesota said even if the risk is low, the threat of enforcement can have far-reaching implications.

During last winter's federal immigration crackdown, state agriculture officials noted a small amount of anecdotal evidence of enforcement near farms. Minnesota does not have a large number of migrant farmworkers compared to states like California.

Rachel Armstrong, founder and executive director of the nonprofit legal support group Farm Commons, said the fear is enough to prevent vulnerable workers from reporting to their jobs.

"The consequences are enormous, especially for the person who is detained, whether or not they have legal authorization. The consequences are enormous for the farm that loses its labor force. Crops don't wait. Cows don't wait to be milked," Armstrong pointed out.

The Trump administration and some congressional Republicans want to expand a visa program for seasonal agricultural workers to address staffing shortages on farms. But Armstrong, who is a licensed attorney, countered it would open the door to problems like human trafficking and worker exploitation. Her group is educating farms on how to prepare and to ensure at-risk workers know their rights.

Armstrong explained even if a farmer takes the proper steps and builds trust, a migrant worker can sometimes feel exposed if they have to drive 30 miles to their job. They might also worry about being targeted by ICE when out shopping and forgo buying boots and other proper gear. She added collectively, such examples add pressure to a food production system already grappling with other market forces.

"Americans are already experiencing what it means right now to pay more for our food and I'm not sure there's that much willingness to accept even higher prices," Armstrong observed.

Since President Donald Trump's return to office, the White House has sent mixed signals about whether to allow ramped-up immigration enforcement to intersect with agriculture.

A July Investigate Midwest report, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data, identified 453 farming counties nationwide. Last year, 145 of them recorded at least one ICE arrest, the highest number since 2018. The report found total ICE arrests in farming counties increased in 2025.

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At-risk workers should know their rights, ICE enforcement efforts will affect harvest operations, migrant workers worry about ICE, will Americans want to pay more for food, ICE arrest have increase in rural farm communities

Small towns can cash in on renewable energy agreements and possible revenue cash flow

Illinois communities should look beyond whether they can stop a project and consider what they can gain through what he called a community benefit agreement.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - Illinois is seeing a major expansion of renewable energy, alongside a power struggle over who gets to call the shots. Now, communities are being asked to consider how to make the growth work for them.

Photo: Petim latifi/Unsplash

Illinois has more than 13,000 megawatts of installed wind and solar capacity. A Ford County wind project has provided roughly $40,000 a year to the Paxton Fire Department for about a decade.

The state has more than 13,000 megawatts of installed wind and solar capacity combined and this summer, regulators approved another 1,500 megawatts of new renewable projects.

Jeff Risley, executive director of the advocacy group Renewable Energy Farmers of America, said skeptical communities should look beyond whether they can stop a project and consider what they can gain through what he called a community benefit agreement.

"Which is essentially a contract between the community and the developer to deliver benefits beyond just the taxes that they're paying," Risley explained.

Risley pointed to Illinois projects where developers have helped pay for local needs. He said a wind farm in Tazewell County contributed about $1 million for road improvements, while a Ford County wind project has provided roughly $40,000 a year to the Paxton Fire Department for about a decade.

Renewable development faces scrutiny in some communities, particularly over farmland and local control. Illinois law gives counties some say over where projects go but limits how much they can restrict ones meeting state standards, a point now being tested in court.

While he believes renewable projects can be incredibly beneficial for communities, Risley noted not every project is a good fit.

"You've got all these different dynamics at play. We're not saying projects work everywhere for every landowner and every community. They often don't. But the exploration is what's necessary to decide if it will or not," Risley emphasized.

Risley added communities can raise legitimate concerns about land use and community character but rural leaders should focus on making sure early on, locals are benefiting from renewable projects.

He stressed more and more towns are enacting local ordinances to protect their land, environment and residents without shutting the door on renewable development.

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Union approval hits high as Illinois strike leader reflects on solidarity

A new Gallup poll shows more than 70% of Americans approve of unions, with nearly half saying labor should have more influence than it does today. In Bloomington, Illinois, union leader Chuck Carver says a recent 28-day strike shows why that support is growing.

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Photo: This Viktọ/PEXELS

Gallup finds over 70% of Americans approve of unions; nearly half want more union influence, the highest share seen in 25 years.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - As the nation takes a step back to appreciate labor history on Sept. 7, Americans are giving unions a vote of confidence, with new polling showing more than 70% approve of unions.

The new Gallup poll also found nearly half of Americans think unions should have more influence, the highest level measured in 25 years.

Chuck Carver, a building service worker at Illinois State University, is one of them. A longtime member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 Local 1110 in Bloomington, Carver led the union through a historic 28-day strike this year. Carver said the effort built strong solidarity and bolstered broad local support.

"We showed solidarity every day, picketing on the line," Carver asserted. "Then when hundreds of students stood up with us and staged a walkout, the faculty unions, the alumni, the elected officials, all the other unions throughout their community made us one day stronger, one day longer."

Carver added the strike ultimately preserved bargaining rights and delivered what he considers fair pay, dignity and respect. He noted the experience also gave students a firsthand look at how much students depend on campus workers, building interest from some students to organize unions themselves. Carver will be honored at the Bloomington Labor Day parade on Monday and was chosen to lead the procession.

Unions still have critics. Opponents said organized labor can drive up costs for employers, limit workplace flexibility and give union members advantages over nonunion workers. Carver countered the recent experience demonstrates a growing momentum for supporting collective bargaining.

"Our biggest obstacle right now is making sure that we all stand up for what we believe in because there's way too many higher powers trying to attempt to take it away from us," Carver contended. "I can tell you, as being a union person, we will not allow that to happen."

Despite growing public support, Gallup said Americans are skeptical unions will grow stronger, with 39% expecting union influence to weaken, compared with 27% who expect unions to grow.

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TAGS: Gallup poll union approval 2026, AFSCME Council 31 Local 1110 strike, Illinois State University building service workers, Chuck Carver Bloomington Labor Day parade, why union approval is rising in America

Illinois union urges lawmakers to use Meta settlement to address education funding gaps

The Illinois Federation of Teachers is urging state lawmakers to consider using money from Illinois' $768 million Meta settlement to help address the state's growing K-12 education funding shortfalls.

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Photo: ‪Salah Darwish/Unsplash

The IFT says Meta settlement funds could help Illinois schools address underfunding, larger classes and special education gaps.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

One of Illinois’ largest and most influential public-sector unions wants lawmakers to use the state’s recent $768 million Meta settlement to help fill statewide education gaps.

The majority of public school students across the state attend class in an underfunded district, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Kurt Hilgendorf, chief of staff for the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said some schools are operating with just 75 cents for every dollar needed.

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The reality around Illinois is that there is a lot of pain in schools right now.

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"If we're in a situation where students aren't getting their needs met and we've got a windfall from a company that's made billions of dollars to help make sure that a student can go to the chess club, then that seems like a pretty easy answer for us," Hilgendorf explained.

Illinois is set to receive funds from a multistate settlement with Meta over a 10-year period. The money is supposed to go toward youth mental health and online safety programs. The federation is calling on state lawmakers to consider using the money toward filling the K-12 education budget deficit even if it will not solve the entire problem.

Hilgendorf stressed shortages from underfunding are hitting communities from Rockford to Belleville, with larger classes and gaps in special education services, leaving students with fewer opportunities. He pointed to state data showing Illinois’ education funding gap is now nearly $7 billion. The deficit grew by more than $1 billion in just the last year.

"The reality around Illinois is that there is a lot of pain in schools right now," Hilgendorf emphasized. "More than a million students aren't getting the experience that they need, and we think that this should be the highest priority for the state government and state legislature (and) the governor to address, starting as soon as the veto session."

The state recently reached the compliance deadline for its evidence-based funding model for public schools, which was passed in 2017.

Hilgendorf argued the standard $350 million annual increase to the funding formula is too slow. At such a pace, he added, children entering kindergarten today will graduate from high schools which remain underfunded. Proponents of the model said it has been a lifeline for schools and has made strides in helping to address the state’s chronically underfunded public education system.

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TAGS: Illinois Meta settlement education funding K-12 schools, Illinois Federation of Teachers school funding deficit, Illinois public schools underfunded education funding gap, Illinois evidence-based school funding formula deficit, Meta settlement money Illinois education funding proposal

How healthy Illinois farmland could help cool the climate and restore rainfall

A new Illinois project is examining how healthier soils, trees and diverse plant life could help strengthen local water cycles, capture rainfall and cool the climate.

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Photo: Steven Weeks/Unsplash

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

A new venture in Illinois is highlighting how healthy farmland can help to address climate change and restore local rainfall.

The Nature Cools project, led by the Climate Land Leaders initiative, is studying how healthy soils, trees and diverse plant life work together to strengthen local water cycles.

Katie Ross, a scientist and researcher for Nature Cools, said regenerating land brings back diversity both above and below the ground. Then, living landscapes can release natural particles helping clouds form and bring rain back to the places where water first evaporated.

"In addition to carbon sequestration, restoring that local rain cycle includes several powerful processes, which is nature's way of cooling the climate," Ross explained.

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Photo: Graddes/Unsplash

Central Illinois farms are helping researchers examine whether regenerative practices and healthier soils can improve water absorption and contribute to natural climate cooling. Researchers found that central Illinois farms with restored prairie and long-term regenerative practices absorbed rainwater much faster than conventionally cropped land.

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Research shows by 2050, Illinois is projected to have at least 26 more days above 95 degrees and more frequent and rapid-onset droughts. With increasing incidents of wildfires and flooding, Ross stressed the project serves to remind farmers of how much agency they can have in the face of natural disasters.

Along with carbon emissions, Ross noted practices killing the microbial community in soils have stunted nature’s natural cooling processes.

This summer, Ross visited three central Illinois farms that are part of the project to measure soil temperature and test how quickly rainwater soaks into the ground. Farms with restored prairie and long-term regenerative practices absorbed water far more quickly than land with a long history of conventional row cropping.

The findings suggest healthier soils are better able to capture rainfall instead of letting it run off.

"What these farmers are doing is incredibly important," Ross emphasized. "That's part of the joy and purpose of this project, is to say you guys actually are superheroes more than is recognized."

The results revealed how difficult land recovery can be

Leslie Cooperband, co-owner of Prairie Oasis Farm near Champaign, said researchers found compacted soils with very little organic matter, even in areas covered by perennial vegetation for decades. Cooperband called it a reminder rebuilding soil damaged over generations takes time.

"It's like a paradigm shift. I will say though, it's a long-term proposition," Cooperband observed. "It's not like plant a bunch of trees and next year you're going to have rain clouds over your farm. The damage is so profound that it is going to take years to bring that soil life back."

Cooperband added with so many farmers feeling squeezed to maximize productivity, it can be hard for farmers to commit to sparing farmland for alternative uses. Still, Cooperband stressed as farmers crave greater climate predictability, the project's findings can help expand efforts beyond farmers already open to adopting regenerative practices.

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TAGS: Nature Cools project Illinois regenerative agriculture, healthy Illinois farmland and local rainfall, regenerative farming and soil health in Central Illinois, how healthy soil can help address climate change, Illinois farms using regenerative practices to capture rainfall

New Illinois law expands restitution for wrongful convictions, including juvenile cases

People wrongfully imprisoned in Illinois could receive larger compensation under a newly signed law that raises the state's payment cap and expands eligibility to people wrongfully convicted in juvenile court. The law also eliminates the previous $300,000 overall limit on compensation.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

People who were wrongfully imprisoned in Illinois could see larger payouts under a newly signed law which raises the compensation cap.

Illinois has the most exonerations of any state, according to the Registry of Exonerations. A new provision also makes children who were wrongfully convicted in juvenile court eligible to receive reparation.

Josh Tepfer, an attorney and executive director of the Exoneration Project, said youth were previously excluded by a technical gap in the prior statute.

"There's just loads and loads of examples of individuals in Illinois who spent literally decades, up to 40 years in prison, for crimes that they were innocent of," Tepfer explained. "This just gets Illinois consistent with states in providing some sort of adequate compensation for these horrific injustices."

The new law raises the cap to $50,000 per year of wrongful imprisonment and eliminates the overall $300,000 limit, including time in jail or juvenile detention before a false conviction.

Experts said the state’s compensation rate has lagged far behind the national average. The typical payout for a wrongful conviction in Illinois was about $11,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment.

Tepfer noted while the government provides reentry support and resources for people who were rightfully convicted and serve their time, there is a critical gap for those who are exonerated.

"There is literally nothing that the government does to help those individuals," Tepfer emphasized. "They're put on a bus and say 'go home' once the system says, 'Sorry, we got it wrong.' So what this does, at least in theory, is give people some sort of real resources where they can patch their life together."

Tepfer added historically, it has been even worse for juveniles. Tepfer pointed to the Ronald Watts police corruption scandal, which saw hundreds of people wrongfully convicted over nearly a decade. Those who were juveniles at the time never qualified for compensation under the law.

"The only distinguishing feature for them not getting compensation from the state was that they were 16 years or younger, and that's just awful," Tepfer underscored. "The fact that this legislation passed gives some hope to those clients who now can petition to get their certificates of innocence that they've always deserved."

Exonerees must have received a certificate of innocence or have been pardoned by the governor and have never received a previous payout to qualify.

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TAGS: Illinois compensation for wrongful imprisonment 2026, new Illinois law wrongful conviction compensation, juvenile wrongful conviction restitution Illinois, Illinois exoneration compensation $50,000 per year, certificate of innocence compensation Illinois