The Human Cost of the SAFE-T Act. When Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act into law in 2021, he hailed it as a landmark step toward equity and accountability in Illinois’ criminal justice system. But nearly four years later, the fallout from this sweeping legislation has left many Illinoisans asking: who is this law really protecting?
The SAFE-T Act—short for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today—eliminated cash bail statewide through the Pretrial Fairness Act. The law allows dangerous individuals to walk free before trial, undermining public safety and justice for victims.
“As someone who has spent almost two decades on the front lines of law enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous the revolving door of cashless bail has become,” Rep. Sheehan said. “Illinois was the first state to eliminate cash bail, and since then, countless communities have suffered the consequences—violent offenders walking free, victims retraumatized, and officers re-arresting the same criminals again and again. This is chaos.”
Two recent cases have reignited public outrage and cast a harsh spotlight on the consequences of the SAFE-T Act.
In March 2025, Megan Bos was reported missing. Her remains were discovered a month later in a storage container in Waukegan. The suspect, Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, confessed to hiding her body for weeks, yet was released pending trial under the SAFE-T Act’s bail provisions. Her grieving mother stood alongside State Representatives Patrick Sheehan, Tom Weber, and Patrick Windhorst to demand change.
“We cannot continue to uphold a law that forces judges to release dangerous criminals back into our communities, especially those who are here illegally,” said Rep. Weber. “The fact that Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez lived freely in our state for months after abusing and hiding a body in his backyard is unthinkable and is a direct result of Illinois’ disastrous SAFE-T Act.”
Just weeks later, another tragedy struck. Two-year-old Trinity Balen-Weiher died in a case of horrific neglect and abuse. Her parents were charged with first-degree murder, but were released before trial. Investigators found drug use, squalid living conditions, and overwhelming evidence of harm, yet the SAFE-T Act allowed them to walk free.
The SAFE-T Act’s elimination of cash bail replaced monetary conditions with a risk-based assessment system. But The Illinois Policy Institute noted that the bill was rushed through the legislature with confusing and contradictory language, leaving law enforcement and courts scrambling to interpret its provisions. Even proponents of reform have acknowledged that the law needs refinement to balance fairness with safety.
In response, President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to withhold funding from jurisdictions that have eliminated cash bail for crimes posing a clear threat to public safety. The order cites the release of violent offenders as a “waste of public resources and a threat to public safety,” and calls for a return to “commonsense policies” that prioritize law-abiding Americans.
Illinois was the first state to eliminate cash bail entirely, but as the tragic stories of Megan Bos and Trinity Balen-Weiher show, reform without accountability can have devastating consequences. The SAFE-T Act has real-world impact that demands serious reexamination.
We need to strengthen judicial discretion and ensure that victims, not perpetrators, are at the center of our justice system. Justice delayed is justice denied, and in Illinois, too many families are still waiting. The SAFE-T Act must be repealed before any more tragedies take place.
McCombie Responds to Pritzker’s Latest Federal Showdown. Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s press conference this week, where Pritzker attacked President Donald Trump and celebrated what he calls record levels of public safety throughout Illinois:
“Public safety is not optional. It’s a fundamental responsibility of leadership, and Illinois families deserve real solutions. While public trust in our state has been eroded by endless corruption and the very leaders who distort facts, shift blame, or ignore problems for the sake of appearances, it’s time to acknowledge where systems are failing:
IMMIGRATION
Illinois hosts 550,000 unauthorized immigrants. Illinois ranks among six states that host the majority of the nation's record 14 million unauthorized immigrants.
- Repeal the SAFE-T Act: we must prioritize victims over criminals, and back law enforcement officers
- Repeal the TRUST ACT: the burgeoning migrant crisis has exponentially impacted Illinoisans from their wallets to neighborhood violence
- Work to reduce the tax burden, and grow our economy, and keep families and businesses in our state
Illinois hosts 550,000 unauthorized immigrants. Illinois ranks among six states that host the majority of the nation's record 14 million unauthorized immigrants.
The big picture: The states — which include Texas, California, Florida, New York and New Jersey — have consistently been home to the most unauthorized immigrants since at least 1980.
But they are no longer the only draw as the immigrants move to other states amid economic transformation, a new Pew study finds.
Why it matters: The report highlights the historic rise in unauthorized immigrants during President Biden's first two years in office, fueling the backlash that helped Donald Trump's return to the White House as Latinos in places like South Texas began shifting to the GOP.
Latinos who told pollsters they supported a border wall and deporting all undocumented immigrants jumped by at least 10 points since 2021, after the increase in unauthorized immigrants began.
Zoom in: Similar Latino divisions emerged in Chicago during the 2023-24 migrant crisis when some long-term unauthorized residents questioned the benefits being bestowed on new arrivals.
Yes, but: Illinois is doubling down on new protections for immigrant students. This month, Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Safe Schools For All Act, which enshrines a child's right to education regardless of immigration status and pushes districts to outline policies for responding to immigration raids.
Read more from Axios Chicago.
Repeal Illinois’ Sanctuary State Policies Now! Sanctuary state policies have made Illinois a destination for illegal immigrants. Gov. Pritzker and Illinois Democrats gave away billions of dollars’ worth of benefits to non-citizens while our own residents struggle. We need to end these problematic policies and put US citizens first.
The Illinois TRUST Act has made Illinois more dangerous. Illinois’ sanctuary state law cannot continue. That’s why House Republicans have filed numerous pieces of legislation to repeal the TRUST Act and keep Illinois communities safe.
Gabriel P. Calixto arrested in Mexico for 2023 murder of Emma Shafer. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted Emma Shafer's tragic murder during a visit to Springfield in May. The Trump Administration continues to bring justice for victims of illegal immigrant criminals.
This week, WICS News Channel 20 reported that Gabriel P. Calixto has been arrested in Mexico for the 2023 murder of Springfield resident Emma Shafer.
Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, the Springfield Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrest of Gabriel P. Calixto in Mexico.
Calixto was wanted in connection with the 2023 murder of 24-year-old Emma Shafer.
On July 11, 2023, Springfield Police officers responded to a residence in the 1000 block of South 8th Street, where they discovered Shafer deceased.
Calixto was subsequently indicted by a Sangamon County Grand Jury and faces three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated domestic battery.
Authorities expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois.
The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office will collaborate with federal authorities to coordinate extradition proceedings.
Deering Files Bill to Make College Affordable for Working Families. State Representative Regan Deering has filed legislation to end preferential treatment for non-citizens in Illinois’ public higher-education system and ensure no non-citizen receives a better tuition or financial-aid benefit than a U.S. citizen.
“College is expensive, and many students rely on financial aid. Taxpayers expect those limited dollars to help U.S. families first,” said Rep. Deering. “Under the Democrats’ policy, non-citizens are prioritized over citizens. That’s not a level playing field, and it’s not fair.”
HB 4097 would prevent a system in which non-citizens receive better treatment than U.S. citizens, including citizens from neighboring states who are currently disadvantaged under Illinois Democrats’ policy.
“Punishing U.S. citizens while rewarding unlawful presence is upside down. We will not treat citizens like second-class. This legislation restores basic fairness and keeps our state on the right side of federal law,” Deering said.
Deering noted that the current policy is divorced from common sense and basic fairness and appears more aimed at advancing Governor Pritzker’s political ambitions than fulfilling governing responsibilities.
“The Governor’s decision to, once again, put illegal immigrants above citizens is abhorrent,” Deering continued. “We should govern with common sense and basic fairness — not with an eye on the White House.”
WORKING FAMILIES
House Republicans Push Relief for Working Families. As the price of everything in Illinois from groceries to utilities seems to be on the rise, a group of House Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to help working families meet these ever-rising costs.
The bills introduced by this group of legislators, collectively known as the Relief for Working Families legislative package, would encourage entrepreneurship, help tipped employees keep all of their gratuities, and create opportunities for technical skill-building that can lead to high-paying jobs.
“Too often the people in the Capitol focus on the wrong solutions: overregulation, tax increases and overspending will not fix our state. We can’t cut our way out of these budget issues. We must grow our economy,” said Rep. Brad Stephens. “With this bill package, we can provide tangible financial relief for hardworking, taxpaying Illinoisans and begin to reshape our state into a destination not only for families, but for students, small businesses, and licensed professionals.”
Stephens is sponsoring House Bill 1752, which creates an income tax deduction for employers who provide educational assistance for employees.
According to the U.S Treasury, small businesses have created over 70 percent of net new jobs since 2019, by removing the barriers to entrepreneurship means businesses can get up-and-running more quickly and start creating new jobs. To give them this helping hand, Rep. Kyle Moore filed House Bill 1351, the Reducing Barriers to Start Act. His bill will eliminate many of the startup fees that new businesses face, including all first-year business fees relating to licensing or registration.
Education is also a key component of the legislative package. Not only do these bills expand training and employment opportunities for working families, they also address the workforce shortage facing the trades and manufacturing sectors of the economy.
Rep. Mike Coffey is sponsoring House Bill 1729, the Reinvest in Future Technical Careers Act which provides tax credits for those who make authorized contributions to funds that award scholarships to students who attend technical academies. HB 1729 would provide opportunities for those who are not otherwise able to afford the training.
“This bill has really come about from conversations I have had during my ‘Mike on Main Street’ tour across the district meeting with different businesses. One common theme has come up every time: we don’t have enough workforce, we need more help,” Coffey said. “They say ‘We don’t have the technical support to fill these positions.’ So the hope is these scholarships will help train individuals to get into the workforce. We need more plumbers, we need more pipefitters, we need more electricians so that we can grow and build Illinois, and that’s the point of this.”
Rep. Kevin Schmidt’s HB 3807 establishes the Illinois Trades Retention and Development Encouragement (ITRADE) grant program to help students gain a degree or certification in the fields related to the trades like electrical, plumbing, masonry, steel working and construction. A similar education-themed bill was filed by House Deputy Republican Leader Ryan Spain. Spain’s House Bill 3821 would make education more affordable for working families by doubling the current education expense income tax credit from $750 to $1500 a year.
“Many students decide to attend a technical school after graduating high school and this bill promotes the skilled trade industry and helps eligible students receive scholarship funds to pursue a degree or certificate from a qualified technical school in Illinois,” Schmidt said. “It’s important every student has the opportunity to excel in a career after graduating high school, and this bill is aimed to do just that.”
Many manufacturing companies in Illinois have expressed concern over the shortage of a trained workforce to fill their needs. One of the obstacles has been a need for licensed educators. Rep. Jed Davis’ House Bill 1112 opens the door for highly skilled trade workers to become educators, even without a bachelor’s degree, ensuring more experts teaching real-world skills and more opportunities for students to complete their education in manufacturing, engineering, technology or a trade.
House Bill 1383 also sponsored by Deputy Leader Spain, creates an income tax deduction on Illinois tax returns for gratuities which were included in the tipped-workers federal tax returns. The legislation would help those who rely on gratuities to keep more of their earnings instead of turning them over to the government.
The financial wellbeing of Illinois’ working families is a top priority for House Republicans who championed this package of bills throughout the spring legislative session, only to see the bills blocked by Democrats. House Republicans intend to renew their efforts when the House re-convenes for the fall session in October.
“This package is called Relief for Working families because that’s what it will provide,” Moore said. “From furthering your education to starting a new business or simply keeping more of your hard-earned money in your own pocket. Working families need and deserve a break. Together these measures provide a great start to supporting working families and helping set them up for success.”