Press Releases
Durbin Continues To Raise Alarms About Severe Due Process Violations Targeting Unaccompanied Children At The Chicago Immigration Court Under The Trump Administration's Cruel Immigration Policies
CHICAGO - After observing the removal proceedings of unaccompanied children (UACs) appearing on the “mega masters” court docket at the Chicago Immigration Court, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today raised concerns about severe due process violations targeting unaccompanied children due to the Trump Administration’s cruel immigration policies. Durbin was joined this morning by the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), the … Continue Reading
August 25, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court’s Temporary Order On President Trump’s Attempted Mail-In Voting Restrictions
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court temporarily permitted President Trump to move forward with portions of an executive order that seek to restrict mail-in voting while litigation on the merits of the case continues. The Supreme Court stayed a lower court injunction that had blocked provisions of the executive order in 23 states and the District of Columbia, though … Continue Reading
August 21, 2026
Durbin Attends Austin Hope Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Austin HOPE Center, which is designed to be a welcoming space for youth and families to seek clinical care and access community-based services. The newly unveiled facility will provide high-quality pediatric behavioral and specialty health care services; community responsive health education and training; gathering space for youth development and other community organizations; … Continue Reading
August 20, 2026
Senate Democrats Sound Alarm On Trump Administration Attacks On Unaccompanied Children’s Legal Representation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) sounded the alarm on the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attacks on legal services for unaccompanied children, requesting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General (IG) conduct a full investigation into the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) process for entering into … Continue Reading
August 20, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Release Statement Applauding Resequencing Of Chicago O’Hare Airport Terminal Area Project
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the resequencing of constructing satellite terminals as part of the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal Area Project (TAP). Today, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced that TAP will be resequenced to build the first phase of the Concourse E during Concourse D construction. Concourse E will house the majority of the additional 25 … Continue Reading
August 19, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Welcome 300 New Citizens At Illinois State Fair Naturalization Ceremony
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today celebrated the naturalization of 300 new citizens from 52 countries at the Illinois State Fair Naturalization Ceremony. The Honorable Colleen Lawless, United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, presided over the ceremony and administered the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens. “We are a nation of immigrants, and … Continue Reading
August 18, 2026
Durbin, Krishnamoorthi Lead Illinois Democratic Delegation In Calling On Trump Administration To End Mass Immigration Hearings Scheduling Up To 185 People At A Time
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today led 13 of their Illinois colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche calling on the Trump Administration to end its use of so-called “mega master” immigration hearings, mass proceedings in which as many as 185 noncitizens can be called to … Continue Reading
August 17, 2026
Durbin Visits ImpactLife Blood Donor Center Amid National Shortage
SPRINGFIELD—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the ImpactLife Blood Center to discuss the importance of addressing the nation’s blood product supply shortage and thank the medical officials and donors who are working to maintain adequate supplies. Durbin was joined by officials from ImpactLife and Memorial Health. “The American Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis in the U.S. last month for just the second time ever, which has impacted patients’ ability … Continue Reading
August 14, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Announce More Than $7.95 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Airports
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today announced a total of $7,951,873 in federal funding for the Chicago Executive Airport and the Decatur Airport. This funding stems from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, which supports the planning and development of public-use airports. “Investing in our airports is laying the foundation for increased … Continue Reading
August 14, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley, Davis Announce More Than $696 Million For Amtrak Upgrades In Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) and Danny Davis (D-IL-07) today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $696,250,000 in federal funding to Amtrak projects based in Chicago. One of the three projects receiving funding—the South Bridge Rehabilitation—is part of the Chicago Hub Improvement project (CHIP), a multi-phased project to revitalize Chicago Union … Continue Reading
August 13, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Statement On Announced Closure Of Tyson Plant In Joslin
JOSLIN - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today released the following statement on the announced closure of the Tyson Foods plant in Joslin, Illinois, which will result in the loss of about 2,500 union jobs in the region: “Today’s news is devastating for the 2,500 skilled union workers impacted by the closure of the Tyson plant in Joslin, especially at a time when American families are … Continue Reading
August 13, 2026
Durbin Joins Calls For Watchdog To Conduct Full Audit Of Trump’s Gilded Ballroom Boondoggle
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee; Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Jack Reed (R-RI), Ranking Member of … Continue Reading
August 12, 2026
Durbin Meets With Clients And Staff At Joliet Junior College’s Entrepreneur And Business Center
JOLIET—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the Entrepreneur and Business Center (EBC) at Joliet Junior College’s City Center Campus for an update on the college’s work to provide training and advising to entrepreneurs with a focus on women, minorities, and veteran-owned small businesses. Durbin secured $800,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending—also known as an earmark—in the Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Services and General Government funding bill to allow the EBC to … Continue Reading
August 12, 2026
Durbin, Booker Submit Amicus Brief To Supreme Court In Maxwell V. Dinis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) submitted an amicus brief in the Supreme Court’s forthcoming case, Maxwell v. Dinis, which will determine whether federal prisoners can use habeas corpus to enforce the earned time credit provisions established by the First Step Act. “In December 2018, a bipartisan majority of both chambers of Congress passed, and President Donald J. Trump signed … Continue Reading
August 11, 2026
Durbin Honored By Lake County Board Of Directors With Resolution Recognizing His Decades Of Service To Illinois
WAUKEGAN - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today was honored by the Lake County Board of Directors during their monthly board meeting with a resolution recognizing his decades of service to Illinois. In addition to applauding his efforts to expand health care and advance medical and scientific research, the resolution highlighted Durbin’s championing of legislation and initiatives that supported Lake County. More than $1 billion in federal grants have been awarded within the … Continue Reading
August 08, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Senate Passage Of Resolution Celebrating 150 Years Of The Chicago Cubs Baseball Team
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded Senate passage of their resolution commending the Chicago Cubs baseball team as it celebrates its 150th anniversary on August 29, 2026. The resolution notes that since 1876, more than 182,000,000 fans have attended games of the Chicago Cubs, and millions more have listened to games on the radio and watched games on television across the United States and the world. U.S. … Continue Reading
August 08, 2026
Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Todd Blanche To Be Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche to be U.S. Attorney General: “It was a grave mistake for the Senate to approve Todd Blanche as the next Attorney General. If there is ever a moment in history when we need an Attorney General above reproach, who is dedicated to ending corruption, it is right now. “This nation deserves an Attorney General … Continue Reading
August 07, 2026
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Legislation To Further Sanction Russia And Hold Purchasers Of Its Oil Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after the Senate passed legislation that will add sanctions on key Russian individuals and industries as well as hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. Durbin was an original cosponsor of the legislation. “This bipartisan bill that Senator Lindsey Graham worked so tirelessly to advance couldn’t be better … Continue Reading
August 07, 2026
Durbin Statement On Unlawful Birthright Citizenship Executive Orders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s latest executive actions to try restricting birthright citizenship: “Birthright citizenship is the law of the land, which the Supreme Court just upheld in June. “But Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s anti-immigrant agenda will never miss a chance to sow doubt and fear in immigrant communities. “The Trump Administration … Continue Reading
August 06, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Members Of The Illinois Delegation To Demand Trump Administration Restore Funding For Illinois Energy Projects That Were Politically Targeted And Illegally Canceled
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration restore funding for the 33 energy grants totaling more than $580 million to the State of Illinois that were unlawfully terminated in October 2025. The Trump Administration … Continue Reading