Illinois Quick Hits: ICE asks Pritzker not to release accused kidnapper

July 10, 2026/

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By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer asking Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other Illinois officials to not release a Venezuelan national who was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl in Kane County last month.

According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, Janio Gionel Velasquez Muro entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was arrested through forensic evidence on June 30.

GOVERNOR SIGNS TWO UTILITY-RELATED BILLS

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that requires the state to publish a report that details charges on residential monthly electric bills. House Bill 5524 passed both houses of the General Assembly with unanimous support last spring.

The governor also signed House Bill 4456, which provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission may approve a low-income discount that applies to electric and natural gas customers’ entire bill and not just certain charges.

REPORT RANKS ILLINOIS COMMUTES AMONG NATION’S SAFEST

A new report says Illinois ranked among the top 10 safest states to commute in America despite recording one of the nation’s highest average crash rates.

Beck and Beck, a car accident law firm, analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which states had the safest commutes from 2020 to 2024. Illinois placed tenth on the list.

Andrew Rice contributed to this story

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