Rock Island Today

Judge Joe McGraw, a candidate for Illinois' 17th Congressional District, has voiced criticism against incumbent Representative Eric Sorensen for voting against a bill that aimed to prevent federal funds from being used to house illegal immigrants on federal lands. McGraw’s criticism came as the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act of 2023.

Sorensen voted against the bill which passed 224–203.

“Last week, Eric Sorensen voted AGAINST protecting our communities and to ALLOW illegal immigrants to take over our National Parks,” McGraw said on Facebook. “It’s time to end the madness.”

The bill under scrutiny was introduced by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and is aimed specifically at migrant encampments in federal parks. A notable example includes the contentious tent city at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York. Advocates for the bill argue that transforming federal parks into migrant encampments is unjust towards surrounding communities and taxpayers. Although it seems unlikely that the Senate will consider this legislation, Malliotakis has urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to pass the bill and address the immigration crisis, as reported by Fox News.

McGraw announced his candidacy for the highly competitive 17th Congressional District in mid-October. The district was narrowly won by Sorensen in 2022. In an attempt to unseat Sorensen, McGraw's campaign underscores law-and-order themes and leverages his judicial background as an authoritative voice on issues such as urban crime and immigration. According to reports from The Pantagraph, McGraw supports policies such as building a border wall, comprehensive immigration reform, and state regulation over federal involvement in abortion issues.

According to his website, McGraw is a devoted husband and father who has spent his life in Illinois. His career spans roles as a prosecutor, private attorney, and judge within law enforcement. Now, he aims to combat corruption in Washington to ensure safety, freedom, and economic prosperity for his community.

The 17th Congressional District encompasses Carroll, Fulton, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, McLean, Peoria, Rock Island, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties as per the Census Bureau’s map.