Accountability record
Statements, legislative actions, and public records—shown with the sources behind them.
Richard J. Durbin
IL · U.S. Senate
Richard J. Durbin has supported due process before transfers from U.S. soil, opposition to transfers that may expose people to serious human-rights violations, and opposition to deporting people to countries where they may have no connection. The available statements are dated and context-specific rather than a comprehensive position on all third-country agreements.
Require notice, language access, lawyers, and a real chance to object
SupportsOn April 22, 2025, Richard J. Durbin supported requiring due process before transferring individuals from U.S. soil to another country.
The statement concerned transfers to El Salvador and does not establish a position on every third-country agreement or on specific safeguards beyond due process.
Stop deporting people to countries where they have no real ties
SupportsOn July 14, 2025, Richard J. Durbin supported objecting to deportation to countries where people may have no connection, including South Sudan, Libya, or El Salvador.
The statement was framed around the cited enforcement operations and does not establish a comprehensive rule covering every third-country agreement or specify all required safeguards.
Ban third-country deportations that risk torture, persecution, or chain deportation
SupportsOn April 22, 2025, Richard J. Durbin supported prohibiting transfers to places where people would face certain serious human-rights violations.
The statement concerned transfers to El Salvador and does not establish a position on every third-country agreement or on public reporting, payments, or independent monitoring.
What they said
“If they do attend, they risk arrest, detention, and a swift deportation, possibly to South Sudan, Libya, or El Salvador-countries they may have no connection to.”
Read the full statement (opens in a new tab)“Our laws also do not allow you to send individuals from U.S. soil to El Salvador without due process. Further, the Executive Branch must comply with longstanding domestic and international law that prohibits the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to a place where the person would face certain serious human rights violations.”
Read the full statement (opens in a new tab)We checked 14 of 14 bills Modern Action tracks on this subject.
Full record
Open the timeline for dated statements, speeches, votes, sponsorships, petition signatures, and source links.
Newest records with confirmed dates appear first.
Official social post
“I joined @RepBillFoster today for an oversight visit to a shelter housing unaccompanied children. Many of these children have already endured horrors that no child should face and they ought to be treated with dignity and have their case heard before an unbiased court system. https://t.co/kiJrU3vJa2”
Official social post
“@JudiciaryDems This is abhorrent. Senate Republicans need to hold a hearing on family detention ASAP.”
Official social post
“This is abhorrent. Senate Republicans need to hold a hearing on family detention ASAP.”
Context: Quoted post by @JudiciaryDems: Dilley ICE detention facility is infamous for its abhorrent treatment of families. Medical neglect. Solitary confinement. Undrinkable water. Abject cruelty. Guards are even taunting hungry kids by eating candy and pizza in front of them. And they’re hiding it from Congress. https://t.c…
Official social post
“I joined @SenAlexPadilla in sending a letter to DOJ and DHS urging them to end the use of blanket $1.8 million penalties to intimidate and punish law-abiding immigrants. As with the rest of the Administration’s mass deportation policies, these penalties are not meant to target the “worst of the worst,” but rather to coerce law-abiding immigrants to leave the United States.”
Official social post
“It’s up to Congress to finally deliver the bipartisan immigration reform the American people are calling for.”
Official social post
“The Trump Administration just got the greenlight to terminate TPS without any judicial review to ensure that Trump officials followed the TPS statute, paving the way for this Administration to deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants to countries where they are not safe. Immigrant families are our neighbors, and they shouldn’t have to live in fear while their futures are decided by anti-immig…”
Official social post
“FISA Section 702 has been abused for far too long. While President Trump wants its reauthorization tied to his voter suppression efforts, I am on the Senate floor to demand that FISA’s renewal come with reforms to protect Americans’ privacy instead. https://t.co/K49KXh5hND”
Official social post
“On DACA’s 14th anniversary, I am joining my colleagues on the Senate floor to urge Congress to pass the Dream Act and provide permanent protections for Dreamers. https://t.co/OemfLDJk07”
Official social post
“DACA was always meant to be a temporary fix as Congress created a permanent path to citizenship for Dreamers. End the uncertainty. Pass the Dream Act and make their protections permanent.”
Official social post
“DACA recipients provide nearly $16 billion to the U.S. economy each year & 37% have U.S. citizen children. Our country is better because they are here.”
Official social post
“To recognize the 14th anniversary of DACA, I joined United We Dream to celebrate the Dreamers who contribute to our country every day & to demand Congress pass the Dream Act. https://t.co/HmsDmYrtg6”
Official social post
“Despite President Trump’s many attempts, DACA is still in place, 14 years after it was created. But his Administration is slow walking DACA renewals and arresting Dreamers. Congress must protect these young people from the President’s mass deportation agenda.”
Official social post
“Since DACA was created, more than 835,000 Dreamers have come forward and received DACA so they can contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners. They have earned their right to remain in America.”
Official social post
“Tereza Lee brought the plight of Dreamers to my attention. I couldn’t believe that so many talented young people were being told they had to leave this country—the only home they’ve ever known. Dreamers deserve to live without fear. Protect DACA, pass the Dream Act. https://t.co/eWrIy0BEXQ”
Official social post
“In 2010, I sent a letter to President Obama asking him to stop the deportation of Dreamers. He responded by announcing the creation of the DACA program, 14 years ago today. On this anniversary, we must recommit to permanently protecting these young people who know no other home than here.”
Official social post
“The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights in a democracy, & Senate Democrats are ready to fight against any attempt by the Trump Administration to undermine it.”
Context: Quoted post by @SenateDems: Elections belong to voters—not Donald Trump. Senate Democrats are fighting back against Republican election interference with a historic effort to protect the vote and defend our democracy. Watch: https://t.co/XKEuy5ZGIr
Official social post
“This Trump judicial pick volunteered to preside over immigration cases in Minnesota and rubberstamped a mass deportation agenda. Operation Metro Surge was massively unpopular and resulted in the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Daniel Traynor shouldn’t be confirmed. https://t.co/94pUokDjL7”
Official social post
“Tonight, I was recognized by the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration for my work in support of Dreamers & bipartisan immigration reform. I am the proud son of an immigrant, & it has been my honor to fight for immigrant communities & their ability to live and succeed in America throughout my time in Congress.”
Official social post
“@JudiciaryDems The cruelty is the point. The Trump Administration is wrongly detaining people with no criminal records. Then, in detention, they’re being treated in ways no human being should and dying.”
Official social post
“The cruelty is the point. The Trump Administration is wrongly detaining people with no criminal records. Then, in detention, they’re being treated in ways no human being should and dying.”
Context: Quoted post by @JudiciaryDems: BREAKING: A 43-year-old has died in ICE custody, marking the 19th death in immigration detention this year and at a pace on track to exceed last year’s deaths in detention.
Official social post
“Not one penny included in this legislation will help struggling American families with the rising cost of gas, groceries, housing, or health care. But Republicans were able to scrounge up $70 billion to support the President’s mass deportation campaign that has terrorized communities in Illinois and across the country and targeted immigrants without a criminal record. It’s a shame that—once aga…”
Official social post
“ICE detention centers are the latest Trump corruption scheme. Horrible conditions, terrible medical care, inhumane living conditions, and skyrocketing deaths of those (often wrongly) detained. But the private detention companies? Record profits.”
Context: Quoted post by @JudiciaryDems: The cruelty is the point. The Trump-Mullin ICE is wrongly detaining people… and in detention, they’re being treated in a way no human should. Worms in food. No medical care. Poor infrastructure. Rampant flu and viruses. Now, detainees are being beaten by agents. https://t.co/Rnv0YnHKL3
Official social post
“@thehill As it always is with this Administration, the cruelty is the point.”
Official social post
“As it always is with this Administration, the cruelty is the point.”
Context: Quoted post by @thehill: White House launches ‘aliens’ site touting immigrant arrests https://t.co/yw309RiuP4
Official social post
“For too long, Americans’ constitutional rights have been violated. I joined @SenMikeLee to introduce a bill to require government agents to obtain a warrant before viewing Americans’ private communications collected under 702. Let’s get this done and protect Americans’ security and their constitutional rights.”
Official social post
“FISA Section 702 is supposed to be for gathering intelligence on foreigners located abroad. But it has been used and abused for spying on Americans right here at home—including protesters, journalists, and even women on dating apps and rental tenants. Reform 702 now. https://t.co/mU8fh2atm1”
Official social post
“A judge found that DHS deliberately violated the El Gamal family’s due process rights and recommended they be released from detention. They are not a flight risk or a threat to their community. Further detention is unjustified and would be an expression of this Administration’s anti-immigrant animus.”
Official social post
“@JudiciaryDems ICE put in a request for local police to hold this refugee and keep him from his family beyond his release date. But no one at DHS took responsibility or provided him with even a basic level of compassion. Deaths like these are the tragic results of this Administration’s cruelty.”
Official social post
“ICE put in a request for local police to hold this refugee and keep him from his family beyond his release date. But no one at DHS took responsibility or provided him with even a basic level of compassion. Deaths like these are the tragic results of this Administration’s cruelty.”
Context: Quoted post by @JudiciaryDems: BREAKING: Medical examiner rules death of refugee in Buffalo abandoned by Border Patrol a homicide.
Official social post
“The data is clear. The majority of people detained during ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ had no criminal history. The Trump Administration’s mass deportation operations terrorized our city, separated families, and endangered U.S. citizens—all to detain and deport mostly nonviolent immigrants.”
Context: Quoted post by @chicagotribune: Newly released data shows that Operation Midway Blitz led to the deportation of nearly 2,500 immigrants — most of them with no criminal record — during last fall’s immigration enforcement surge that fueled protests and led to two shootings, one deadly. https://t.co/Xc0nQbIWvM
Official social post
“People are dying in ICE custody. 14 people died this year. 30+ died last year. ICE needs serious reforms.”
Official social post
“DHS has already admitted that it is arresting and deporting DACA holders. Now, new reporting suggests its delays in DACA renewal applications will subject even more to potential arrest and detention. This is unacceptable.”
Context: Quoted post by @JudiciaryDems: Kristi Noem just disclosed damaging information. ICE wrongfully arrested 261 DACA recipients… and deported 86. She’s using her typical “worst of the worst” defense. We’re not buying it. https://t.co/LCFcnbKmdR
Official social post
“All Democrats are asking is for ICE and CBP to play by the same rules that your local police officer does. Senate Republicans would rather keep DHS shutdown.”
Official social post
“Last week, Republicans blocked a bill to fund TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard. They rejected it so ICE and DHS can avoid any level of accountability.”
Official social post
“11 people have died in ICE detention this year. 30+ died last year. ICE needs serious reforms.”
Official social post
“DHS agents detained an American citizen from Evanston for nearly two days before stranding her in Wisconsin with no way to get home. Any new DHS Secretary must commit to ending these unlawful detentions.”
Context: Quoted post by @ABC7Chicago: The woman's family said federal agents told them that she was not in custody despite her phone location previously showing her at the Broadview facility. https://t.co/2A4tvxEUpf
Durbin kelly padilla senate democrats press trump administration on weaponizing immigration court hearings to trap arrest deport immigrants
“If they do attend, they risk arrest, detention, and a swift deportation, possibly to South Sudan, Libya, or El Salvador-countries they may have no connection to.”
Voted YES in a procedural vote.
S.Res. 195 · A resolution requesting information on El Salvador's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
This shows how the official voted on this decision. It does not show why they voted that way or prove their position on every part of the bill.
Joined the bill as a cosponsor.
S.Res. 195 · A resolution requesting information on El Salvador's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Durbin senators demand president trump rescind harmful claims that he will transfer incarcerated us citizens to a foreign prison
“Our laws also do not allow you to send individuals from U.S. soil to El Salvador without due process. Further, the Executive Branch must comply with longstanding domestic and international law that prohibits the United States from transferring any person from our jurisdiction or effective control to a place where the person would face certain serious human rights violations.”
Durbin the anti immigrant executive actions taken by president trump do nothing to make america safer
“We can all agree that the border of the United States should be secure. And, of course, we must deport any dangerous individuals who are here unlawfully. But the executive orders that President Trump signed this past week don't target criminals.”
Context only — this record does not establish the official’s broader position or motive.
Official statement about a letter
“This administration's anti-asylum policies have reversed 40 years of proud U.S. leadership in providing safe haven to people fleeing violence and persecution.”
Context only — this record does not establish the official’s broader position or motive.
Official statement about a letter
“more frequent independent monitoring of CBP facilities is required to rebuild confidence that migrants in the care of the government will be treated humanely.”
“more frequent independent monitoring of CBP facilities is required”
Context only — this record does not establish the official’s broader position or motive.
Durbin statement on deportation raids targeting central american refugees
“Halt these raids until we can ensure that women and children have a fair day in court and are not deported back to countries where they could face persecution or even death.”
Context only — this record does not establish the official’s broader position or motive.
Durbin we are a nation of immigrants
“Instead, this Administration has made it the top priority to deport those who have committed serious crimes or are a threat to public safety.”
Context only — this record does not establish the official’s broader position or motive.
See where this review searched and which records it actually verified. Statements and actions can support the answer above; money appears only as separate context.
Legislative record
Complete for this scope · 2 records
Bills currently linked to this issue
Official statements
Searched · 2 records
Official statements reviewed
Verified social posts
Complete for this scope through Aug 19, 2026 · 36 records
Verified official X account
Congressional Record
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Congressional passages reviewed
Hearings
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Committee and hearing passages reviewed
News and interviews
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Reporting and interviews reviewed
Letters
Searched · 5 records
Signed letters found
Public statements, verified social and news · search completed · 8 verified
Votes, bills and petitions · search completed · 2 verified
Other public records · no public record found
