Rock Island Today

Following the landing of a private Boeing 777 at Chicago Rockford International Airport, which was reportedly carrying around 350 undocumented immigrants on Dec. 31, Judge Joe McGraw, a candidate for the 17th Congressional District, expressed severe criticism of President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen's (D-Ill.) border policies. McGraw held these officials responsible for the incident, attributing it to their inability to secure the southern border.

“Policy failures have consequences,” McGraw said on Facebook.

“The policies of Biden and Sorensen have created the crisis at our southern border. This is one of the results for Illinois communities.”

McGraw expressed his disappointment in Biden and Sorensen for their perceived lack of effective action. He also emphasized his commitment to ensuring safety and security in Illinois' 17th district.

"Biden and Sorensen have failed to take any real action to secure the border, take on drug cartels and human traffickers, and stop the massive influx of fentanyl, which is killing so many Americans," he said. "I’m running for Congress so the families of Illinois’ 17th district have a strong and unwavering voice for their safety and security."

These comments from McGraw came in response to an incident where a private Boeing 777 carrying approximately 350 undocumented immigrants landed at Chicago Rockford International Airport on Sunday. This marked the second instance of Texas sending a private aircraft with undocumented individuals to Illinois. A recent report by Rockford Sun detailed that after landing, eight buses coordinated by the Texas Department of Emergency Management transported these migrants towards the McHenry County line under escort by Winnebago County sheriff's deputies.

McGraw, who previously served as a prosecutor, private attorney, and retired Circuit Court judge, officially announced his candidacy for the 17th Congressional District in mid-October. He is set to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), who achieved a slim victory in 2022. McGraw's campaign heavily emphasizes law-and-order principles; he leverages his substantial judicial experience to address issues pertaining to urban crime and immigration. His policy positions include advocating for the construction of a border wall, endorsing comprehensive immigration reform, and supporting state regulation over federal intervention in abortion-related matters, according to Pantagraph.

The 17th Congressional District includes Carroll, Fulton, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, McLean, Peoria, Rock Island, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside and Winnebago counties. It is currently represented by Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) Sorensen, who assumed his office last year and is seeking re-election to the U.S. House, is the only Democrat candidate for the 17th District so far, according to Ballotpedia.