SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) announced today that he is sponsoring legislation to deter companies that do business with Illinois from participating in the construction of a wall along the nation’s southern border. He also released the following statement regarding President Trump’s speech before Congress about the wall:

"I emphatically reject President Trump’s plans to build a wall at the border with Mexico. This aberration will be built based on prejudices, hate and racism that go against our core values of what it means to be an American, and it will damage our relationship with Mexico – a good neighbor, partner and friend.

As a state lawmaker and Chairman of the Latino Caucus, I introduced a bill (SB 2091) that will label entities that do business with the state of Illinois and participate in the construction of the wall as a “restricted company.” This legislation sends a strong message that Illinois will not be part of this unreasonable and fiscally irresponsible project.
 
Illinois, like the rest of the nation, has been built by immigrants, so I will make sure our state continuous to be a friendly and welcoming place to people from other countries.”