An Illinois state senator has launched a legislative effort to block immigration enforcement officers hired during Donald Trump's presidency from serving as police officers in her state. The move comes in direct response to the fatal shooting of a woman in Minnesota by a federal agent last week.
Legislative Response to a Fatal Shooting
State Senator Laura Fine, a Democrat, filed the bill after Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 12, 2026. The proposed law would prohibit officers from being hired as state or local law enforcement officials in Illinois if they joined US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the current Trump administration.
"ICE is out of control, and Donald Trump must be held accountable as communities like ours and across the country are torn apart by fear and violence," Senator Fine told the Evanston Roundtable. She added that the officers are "complicit in the president's authoritarian campaign" and that the state must act to prevent further violence.
National Push to Curb ICE Authority
This is not Senator Fine's first attempt to limit ICE's operations. She has previously championed measures to bar the agency from conducting operations in sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and daycares. Her latest proposal is part of a broader national trend among Democrats seeking to impose stricter oversight on the federal agency.
In Tennessee, Democratic Representative Gabby Salinas has introduced similar legislation to block ICE operations at schools and churches. Salinas, who immigrated from Bolivia as a child, expressed concern that the violence seen elsewhere could reach her community. Notably, she stated that the Republican electorate has been receptive to her bill, highlighting a divergence from elected officials.
Contested Narrative and Political Fallout
The incident that sparked this legislative action remains fiercely contested. While ICE claims Good deliberately drove her SUV at agents, witnesses and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have strongly disputed that account. Following the shooting, state and local officials demanded ICE leave Minnesota, but Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem insisted her agents "are not going anywhere."
The controversy has also entangled future funding for the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, with Democrats seeking stricter oversight. However, negotiators have recently signalled optimism that a formal spending agreement could be reached soon.
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of lax vetting uncovered during a major ICE recruitment drive. The Trump administration aimed to hire 10,000 agents by the end of 2025. According to records reviewed by the Daily Mail, since July last year, 584 recruits had failed the academy by December 1, while 558 graduated and 620 remained in training.
