Rep. Niemerg Sounds Alarm Over Noncitizen Voter Registration Mailings

Written by David E. Smith

Last week, we reported on comments made by State Senator Steve McClure (R-Effingham) in which he raised serious concerns after discovering that the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) had sent voter registration materials to noncitizens applying for state assistance. That revelation alone sparked widespread concern and raised an obvious question: Why would a state agency be placing voter registration materials into the hands of individuals who are not legally eligible to vote?… Continue Reading

Red Flags in Springfield: Bills That Should Alarm Parents

Written by David E. Smith

Rather than strengthening families and reinforcing accountability, these proposals continue to sideline parents and replace parental authority with government control.… Continue Reading

Why Are Noncitizens Receiving Voter Registration Forms?

Written by David E. Smith

Illinois State Senator Steve McClure (R-Effingham) continues to sound the alarm over election integrity as it pertains to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the distribution of voter registration materials to illegal immigrants applying for state benefits.

In a January 7, 2025 press release, McClure revealed that IDHS had been sending packets to noncitizens that included “pre-filled” voter registration applications already addressed to county clerk offices. He warned that such practices create confusion and could open the door to unlawful voter registration.… Continue Reading

Dulce Quintero: “They/Them” Secretary of IDHS

Written by David E. Smith

JB Pritzker appointed Dulce Quintero in September 2023 as Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), making Quintero the first gender-confused appointee to lead a statewide agency in Illinois. She was re-appointed and confirmed by Illinois Senate Democrats earlier this week.

Quintero is an LGBTQIA+ activist who was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2017 in recognition of her advocacy and leadership on behalf of LGBTQIA+ youth in Chicago.… Continue Reading

Stephanie Trussell: Fighting the Status Quo to Restore Illinois

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, David Smith sits down with Stephanie Trussell to discuss the political climate in Illinois.

Stephanie Trussell is a Christian, wife, mom, grandmother, radio host, and candidate for the 42nd House District who epmphatically says:

“I want to make it easier… for people to achieve the American Dream…

[Illinois is] the greatest state in the nation– we have the worst leaders.

In this conversation, Stephanie talks about the importance of standing on the biblical principles of faith, family, and life in the realm of politics.… Continue Reading

Illinois is Taking Control Away From Parents: What You Need to Know

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, IFI’s David Smith sits down with Thomas Hampson to discuss the pending legislation that is aimed at usurping parental rights.

Thomas Hampson is an Air Force veteran where he served as an intelligence analyst in Western Europe. He served as Chief Investigator for the Illinois Legislation Investigative Commission and served on the Chicago Crime Commission as a Board member.

His investigative work led him to start his organization, Truth Alliance Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting children from sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.… Continue Reading

SCOTUS Redistricting Ruling Sparks Pushback from Pritzker

Written by David E. Smith

Governor JB Pritzker sharply criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on race-based redistricting, calling it “an attack on a crown jewel of our democracy.”

The Court ruled 6–3 that Louisiana’s addition of a second majority-black congressional district constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The decision is expected to narrow how the Voting Rights Act is applied moving forward—particularly in cases involving race-based districting.

Speaking to Chicago media, Pritzker said,

“Illinois is the proud home of having sent more black members of Congress to Washington than any other state in the country.

A Preventable Death—and a Call to Fix Illinois Law

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

Passed in 2017, the Illinois TRUST Act set heavy boundaries on local law enforcement cooperation with federal law enforcement.

Functionally, the Illinois TRUST Act:

• Prohibits local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law,

• Prohibits detaining individuals for purely immigration status reasons,

• Prohibits local law enforcement from assisting in federal immigration operations, and

• Prohibits local law enforcement from transferring detainees into ICE custody without proper authorization.

Because of this, Illinois is broadly known as a “sanctuary state” for illegal immigrants.… Continue Reading

The “SAFE-T” Act is Anything But “Safe”

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

Passed in 2021, the SAFE-T Act, which stands for Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity- Today Act, gave Illinois a major overhaul of the state’s criminal-justice protocol.

Most notably, the SAFE-T Act put an end to cash bail. Democrat proponents argued that requiring bail unfairly targeted the poor. They claimed that these individuals were detained in jail not because of how dangerous they were, but on whether or not they were able to pay bail.… Continue Reading

SAFE-T Act Reform Urgently Needed

Written by David E. Smith

Christine Shanahan McGovern, a Republican candidate for Illinois Senate District 18, recently attended a press conference calling for major reforms in the Illinois SAFE-T Act. This legislation, enacted in 2021, represents the most significant overhaul of the criminal justice system.

One of the major controversial components was the elimination of cash bail. In the years since it has gone into effect, critics of this soft-on-crime legislation point out that the elimination of cash bail also limits a judges’ ability to detain individuals deemed dangerous, potentially releasing repeat or violent offenders back into communities and increasing the risk of re-offending.… Continue Reading