10th Congressional District Candidates Sound Off On ICE Reform

The two candidates facing off in the Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional District agree that reform is needed for the immigration enforcement strategies currently in place by the Trump administration.

Incumbent Brad Schneider, of Highland Park, and newcomer Morgan Coghill, of Mundelein, also agree changes need to be made to help working families get ahead in today's economy.

But during a forum held by the League of Women Voters of Lake County and Mano a Mano Family Resource Center earlier this month, the candidates sparred on what steps needed to be taken — and to what degree — to get to a better place, with Schneider touting his experience in politics as proof he can get the job done and Coghill, a businessman, criticizing the lack of foresight from the "millionaires and billionaires" in charge as a reason to elect him.

"There is a reason why the Democratic party has an approval rating in the high 20s and Donald Trump's is higher, and it's because our congressman and our leaders are not fighting hard enough for us," Coghill said. "They have sold out to big business, big interests and they are not defending us."

Coghill is calling for an outright abolishment of ICE.

"We will use every tool in the legislative toolbox to make sure ICE is abolished," Coghill said.

Schneider said change is needed when it comes to immigration enforcement. The decade-long congressman, who if elected in November would enter his seventh term, said the Democratic party first needs to gain the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

From there, Democrats can take steps to block what the Trump administration is doing through subpoenas and other measures, he said.

"They are terrorizing our communities and not making anyone more safe or more secure," Schneider said. He stated the U.S. does need border security but also needs new leadership handling it, suggesting a push for an impeachment inquiry into the current secretary of homeland security, Kristi Noem.

During the forum, Schneider said his main goal this election season is to help working families in the 10th Congressional District.

Meanwhile, Coghill criticized affluent and out-of-touch politicians — the millionaires and billionaires in power — for not enough changes coming for working families who've amid the housing crisis and rising inflation.

"I grew up in poverty. I know what it's like to grow up on SNAP," Coghill said.

The district represents several communities in Lake and Cook counties, including: Waukegan, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Highland Park, Deerfield, Lake Bluff, Lincolnshire, Bannockburn, Zion, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Northbrook, Northfield, Wheeling and Wilmette.

The full video of the candidate forum can be viewed here.