Avelar backs bill aimed at making assaulting immigrants a hate crime

State Rep. Dagmara Avelar co-sponsored legislation that could make any assault against a person based on their citizenship or immigration status a hate crime.

In supporting the bill, S.B. 1596, Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, tied her own experiences as an immigrant to the need for the measure. She said in a press release she moved with her family to the U.S. from Ecuador when she was 12 years old.

“I’ve seen first-hand the discrimination immigrants face based on their citizenship status,” Avelar said in a statement. “While I am thankful that my family or I never faced physical assault because we were immigrants, others are not as lucky. That’s why it’s imperative that we protect all immigrants from xenophobia and make sure criminals are held accountable for their actions.”

She added that one in seven people in Illinois were born outside of the U.S.

“We need to make sure we are protecting our fellow Illinois neighbors and I am proud to be a sponsor on this,” Avelar said in her statement.

The bill’s changes would apply to certain crimes like assault, battery, aggravated assault, intimidation, stalking, cyberstalking, misdemeanor theft, criminal trespass to residence, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to vehicle, criminal trespass to real property, mob action, disorderly conduct, transmission of obscene messages, harassment by telephone, or harassment through electronic communication.

Both the Illinois House of Representatives and the Senate passed the bill unanimously.