Congressman Darin LaHood, born and raised in Peoria, serves the constituents of the 18th District of Illinois. Sworn into the US House of Representatives on September 17, 2015, LaHood quickly transitioned into office after his special election win on September 10. He won re-election to serve his third full-term in Congress on November 3, 2020, defeating his opponent with 70-percent of the vote.
The 18th District spans 19 counties across central and west-central Illinois, ranging from McLean County (Bloomington-Normal) to Adams County (Quincy). LaHood serves close to 710,000 constituents.
The United States has always been a country that welcomes those who legally come to the United States in search of freedom, democracy and opportunities to pursue the American Dream.
However, the American rule of law must be respected, especially among those who hope to live here. We need to secure our southern border and enforce our immigration laws. As a state and federal prosecutor for over a decade, I have prosecuted immigration violations, and sent violators back to their country of origin.
An integral part of America is our commitment to the safety of our citizens and opportunities for our country to flourish. In a day and age where we fight enemies that transcend the borders of nation-states, America and our government must focus on how we welcome newcomers so that we protect our country from those who seek to destroy it.
America has always been the shining “city on a hill.” While preserving the ability of those hoping to thrive within its borders to come to America and seek refuge and opportunity should be a priority, we must always balance this interest with our national safety and security in mind.