SPRINGFIELD – To protect the wellbeing of immigrant communities, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force.

“We need this task force in order to determine where relief efforts have fallen short for immigrant communities,” Villanueva said. “We must address the systemic disinvestment in our area and build a recovery that benefits all Illinoisans, regardless of status.”

The legislation would reinstate the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force, which ended at the start of 2021. The task force would examine where the state can improve relations and services in immigrant communities, the impact of the pandemic, disbursement of funds to immigrant communities, practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state among other issues.

“Our state government doesn’t exist to serve ICE.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect the privacy and safety of Illinois’ undocumented residents, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would prevent photographs taken for state IDs and driver’s licenses from being shared with federal immigration authorities on Thursday.

“Undocumented residents need to be able to trust our state institutions,” Villanueva said. “It’s impossible to expect that of them if we are sending their facial recognition data directly to authorities. Our state government doesn’t exist to serve ICE.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect women and children in Illinois, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation the Illinois Senate that would establish the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission.

“Incidents of domestic violence have increased dramatically since the start of the pandemic,” Villanueva said. “Families are counting on us to take proactive measures to prevent violence.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect first-generation college students from predatory business practices, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would create transparency and fairer guidelines for educational planning services.

“Companies that prey on first-generation and low-income students must be held accountable,” Villanueva said. “I am committed to empowering our state agencies to reel in these bad actors.”

SPRINGFIELD – To help public colleges and universities better understand the needs of student parents, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate directing colleges to collect certain information from students that will help shape more accommodating policies going forward.

“Young parents and parents returning to school face unique challenges, specifically with access to child care and financial assistance,” Villanueva said. “Public institutions of higher education have a moral obligation to the children of their students to see that they are cared for.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to newly released body camera footage of the police-involved shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo:

“As a resident of Little Village, my heart was broken by the loss of yet another young life. I extend my deepest condolences to Adam Toledo’s family during their time of unimaginable loss and to the community that mourns with them.

“While confirmed killers like Kyle Rittenhouse are calmly taken into custody by law enforcement, Black and Brown children are not afforded that treatment. Instead, many are killed and branded as thugs to excuse their murders. This double standard in narratives vilifies working-class people and people of color while eliciting sympathy for affluent white people like Rittenhouse.

“Communities subjected to state violence know that heavier policing will not address the underlying causes of poverty and racism. This is a systemic issue that is larger than this one incident. Our neighborhoods have been systematically disinvested in, which is why funding for schools, housing, health care and jobs in our communities are necessary in the fight to prevent further violence and create opportunity for all. 

“Adam Toledo was a 13-year-old child who was victim of a broken system. A transparent investigation is essential for justice, and we must hold those accountable for this child’s death.”

Villanueva demanda rendición de cuentas por el tiroteo en el que murió el joven de 13 años, Adam Toledo

CHICAGO – La Senadora estatal Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) dio a conocer la siguiente declaración como respuesta al video de cámara corporal dado a conocer del tiroteo en contra del joven de 13 años, Adam Toledo, en el que está involucrada la Policía.

“Como residente de La Villita, tengo el corazón roto por otra vida más que se pierde de un joven. Envío mis más sentidas condolencias a la familia de Adam Toledo ante esta inimaginable de pérdida, un luto que es compartido por la comunidad.

“Mientras que asesinos confirmados como Kyle Rittenhouse son puestos en custodia con toda tranquilidad por parte de los oficiales del orden, los niños de las comunidades afroamericana y latina no reciben ese trato. En su lugar, muchos de ellos son asesinados y reconocidos como criminales para justificar sus muertes. Este doble estándar en cómo se cuentan sus historias denigra a la gente de clase trabajadora y a las comunidades de color, mientras se causa empatía por la gente blanca con recursos como Rittenhouse.

“Las comunidades que son objeto de la violencia desde las instituciones del gobierno saben que un mayor despliegue policiaco no resolverá las causas de la pobreza y el racismo. Este es un problema sistémico que es mayor que este incidente. Nuestros vecinos han sufrido de una falta sistemática de inversión en sus comunidades, por lo que resulta necesario financiar las escuelas, vivienda, cuidados de salud y empleos en nuestras comunidades para luchar para prevenir más violencia y generar oportunidades para todos.

“Adam Toledo era un niño de 13 años que fue víctima de un sistema que no funciona. Una investigación transparente es esencial para que haya justicia, así como debemos hacer que rindan cuentas aquellos responsables de la muerte de este niño.”

SPRINGFIELD – To help young adults improve their financial literacy, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) moved legislation that would create the Equity through Financial Literacy Task Force from the Senate Human Rights Committee today.

“Knowing how to navigate complex financial systems is necessary for young adults to be successful,” Villanueva said. “We must be proactive in educating young people on how to stay safe from financial predators and how to overcome systemic barriers to capital.”

The task force would investigate how to best educate residents to maximize their income, avoid predatory practices and fines, and plan for their financial futures. Recommendations will focus on efforts to reduce economic disparities in historically disinvested groups.

In 2020, Americans reported an average of $1,634 in lost income due to a deficit in financial education. These costs are even more devastating to people of color, who have an average of $700,000 lower household wealth than white families.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1556, passed the Senate Human Rights Committee and awaits consideration before the full Senate.

Villanueva avanza para mejorar la educación financiera entre jóvenes adultos

SPRINGFIELD – Para ayudar a que los jóvenes adultos mejoren su educación financiera, la Senadora estatal Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) avanzó hoy una legislación que creará la Fuerza de Trabajo de la Equidad a través de la Educación Financiera en el Comité de Derechos Humanos del Senado.

“Saber cómo navegar el complejo Sistema financiero es necesario para el éxito de los jóvenes adultos,” dijo Villanueva. “Debemos ser proactivos en educar a los jóvenes sobre cómo no caer en manos de depredadores financieros y cómo superar las barreras sistémicas de acceso al capital.”

La fuerza de trabajo investigará la mejor manera de cómo educar a los residentes para maximizar su ingreso, evitar prácticas depredadoras y pagos por comisiones, y planear su futuro financiero. Las recomendaciones se enfocarán en los esfuerzos para reducir las disparidades económicas en grupos en los que históricamente no se ha invertido.

En 2020, los estadounidenses reportaron un promedio de $1,634 en ingresos perdidos debido a un déficit en su educación financiera. Estos costos son más devastadores entre gente de color, quienes promedian un nivel de riqueza acumulada por hogar inferior en $700,000 comparado con las familias blancas.

La legislación, SB 1556, fue aprobada por el Comité de Derechos Humanos y espera ser considerada por el pleno del Senado.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) moved legislation from the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee that would lower broadband service charges for consumers.

“The pandemic has shown just how vital reliable access to internet is,” Villanueva said. “Working families must have affordable broadband options as jobs and education move online.”