Press Releases
Durbin Statement On ICE Officer Fatally Shooting A Woman In Minneapolis Amid Surge In Immigration Activity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a woman amid a surge in ICE activity in Minneapolis: “As I’ve said time and time again, the Trump Administration’s militarized immigration raids are dangerous political theater meant to spread fear and advance an anti-immigrant agenda. And now, a surge in immigration … Continue Reading
January 07, 2026
Durbin Slams Trump Administration, Congressional Republicans For Failing To Address Rising Health Care Costs For Americans
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor, drawing a sharp contrast between the successful efforts of congressional Democrats to lower the cost of 10 common prescription drugs, and congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration’s actions to gut funding for Medicaid and end the enhanced premium tax credits that assist 22 million Americans in affording health insurance. On January 1, new, lower costs for 10 of the most … Continue Reading
January 07, 2026
Following All-Senators Classified Briefing, Durbin Raised Unanswered Questions About The U.S.’S Next Steps Regarding Venezuela; Urged The Administration To Be Honest With The American People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today following the classified briefing with Administration officials on the actions they have taken in Venezuela—including capturing Nicolás Maduro. “It’s a heady experience to go through a classified briefing at the highest levels of our government, and virtually every United States Senator of both political parties had the opportunity this morning. I took advantage of it. It’s rare and important. It was … Continue Reading
January 07, 2026
Durbin Questions Republican Witness On Political Violence In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On The Impeachment Of Federal Judges
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Will Chamberlain, a senior counsel at the right-wing Article III Project, in today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing. Durbin questioned Mr. Chamberlain about condemning political violence. In September, Mr. Chamberlain posted on X: “I’m fine with a living Constitution at the moment, tbh. There are a … Continue Reading
January 06, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Join Gallego To Demand Answers On Harms Of Diverting Federal Agents For Immigration Enforcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in sending a letter to President Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding answers on the impact of the Administration’s decision to pull thousands of federal law enforcement personnel away from their work keeping dangerous criminals off the streets and … Continue Reading
January 06, 2026
Durbin, Whitehouse Press Susie Wiles On Her Access To The Epstein Files
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) pressed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on her access to sensitive materials in the Epstein Files, as well as her role in the Department of Justice’s bungled, partial release of the files in violation of the December 19 deadline in the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act. In a letter to Wiles, Durbin and Whitehouse wrote: “In a … Continue Reading
January 06, 2026
Durbin, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Call For Inspector General Audit Of Justice Department’s Failed Release Of Full Epstein Files
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in writing to Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume to request the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) perform an audit of DOJ’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation requiring the release of all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. The Senators … Continue Reading
January 06, 2026
Durbin Statement On Fifth Anniversary Of The January 6th Insurrection At The U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement marking the fifth anniversary of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021: “Five years ago on this day, armed insurrectionists overran the Capitol in a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election. They did so at the direction of a bitter and defeated President intent on clinging to power by any means possible. “In the wake of … Continue Reading
January 05, 2026
Durbin-Grassley Statement On Judiciary Committee’s Exclusion From Administration’s Briefing On Its Operations In Venezuela
WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today released a joint statement on the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the Senate Judiciary Committee from this evening’s Capitol Hill briefing on the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, who was indicted for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy: “President Trump and Secretary Rubio have stated that this was a law enforcement operation that was made at the Department of … Continue Reading
January 03, 2026
Durbin Statement On The Trump Administration’s Actions In Venezuela
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after U.S. military forces captured Venezuela President, Nicolás Maduro: “First and foremost, I disagree with President Trump’s use of U.S. military forces without Congressional approval and worry deeply about this Administration’s follow through on foreign policy interventions. Also, a Justice Department indictment cannot justify the lack of Congressional authorization. At the same time, Nicolás … Continue Reading
December 23, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Deployment Of National Guard Troops To Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court declined to stay a federal judge’s temporary restraining order that blocked President Trump’s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago: “It’s long past time for the Trump Administration to back off Chicago. The majority of Americans believe they’ve gone too far, and even the Supreme … Continue Reading
December 20, 2025
Durbin Statement On Trump Administration Failure To Release The Complete Epstein Files
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Justice failed to produce the complete Epstein files yesterday in accordance with federal law: “Yesterday could have been a win for survivors, accountability, and transparency to the public. It wasn’t. After mishandling the Epstein files all year, the Trump Administration is now violating federal law to protect the rich and … Continue Reading
December 19, 2025
Durbin Joins Blumenthal, Ross To Introduce Legislation To Shine Light On Supreme Court Shadow Docket Decisions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC) to introduce bicameral legislation establishing transparency in decisions on the Supreme Court’s emergency docket, also known as the “shadow docket.” The Shadow Docket Sunlight Act requires the Supreme Court to provide a written explanation for shadow docket decisions and a vote count detailing … Continue Reading
December 19, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, Members Of Illinois Delegation Request $25 Million In Reimbursements For MWRD’s Work On The Thornton Reservoir
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL-04), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle urging the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to include $25 … Continue Reading
December 19, 2025
Durbin Statement On Whistleblower Disclosure Regarding USCIS Circumventing Court Order
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding a whistleblower disclosure alleging that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is feigning compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and a court order in a class action lawsuit in order to avoid court oversight. The Nightingale court order simply requires USCIS to comply with existing FOIA law to process … Continue Reading
December 19, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $13.5 Million In Federal Funding To Support Illinois Students
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $13,467,325 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education for mental health and literacy support for students in Illinois. “There is a growing mental health and literacy crisis amongst today’s youth that must be addressed,” said Durbin. “Today’s announced federal funding for programs that build the pipeline of mental health professionals, connect professionals to … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025
Durbin Statement On Upcoming Epstein Files Deadline
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement as tomorrow marks the statutory deadline for the Trump Administration to release the Epstein files: “This should be a big step towards transparency to the American public about the horrors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. “As the statutory deadline to release the Epstein files approaches, it’s important to center survivors at the forefront. Jeffrey … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025
Durbin, Graham Introduce Bill To Sunset Section 230 Immunity For Tech Companies, Protect Americans Online
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act, which would repeal Section 230 two years after the date of enactment so that those harmed online can bring legal action against companies and finally hold them accountable for the harms that occur on their platforms. “Children are being exploited and abused because Big Tech consistently prioritizes … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025
On Senate Floor, Durbin Announces Criminal Referral To DOJ Regarding Trump Officials’ Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement Activity
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced he, along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), have submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department regarding the unlawful actions of senior Administration officials and federal immigration agents in “Operation Midway Blitz.” The Trump Administration repeatedly appears to have violated the constitutional rights of individuals in … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, Casten Introduce Resolution Honoring Illinois’ Blue Ribbon Schools After Trump Administration Ends Program
WASHINGTON— After the Trump Administration ended the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today introduced a resolution to recognize the 28 Illinois schools that were selected to receive the designation of Blue Ribbon Schools this year. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was a national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education given to public, charter, and private … Continue Reading