On August 21, 2019, the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act was signed into Illinois state law. This act is aimed to protect tenants from the fear that their landlord may disclose their immigration status if they voice the concerns needed to maintain adequate living conditions. The Immigrant Tenant Protection Act explicitly prohibits landlords from disclosing or threatening to disclose the immigration status of a tenant with the intent of harassment, intimidation, or retaliation. The act also prevents landlords from making irrelevant inquiries about a tenant’s immigration status in civil court disputes over housing rights.
Illinois is the second state (after California) to enact legislation protecting immigrant tenant’s rights in this way. The passage of this act marks and important step in ensuring that all Illinois tenants, regardless of their immigration status, can exercise their housing rights.
