ELGIN – Thanks to over $400,000 in grant money from the secretary of state, patrons of three local libraries will see upgrades to services, State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) announced Thursday.

“From recreational activities to vital educational and vocational tools, libraries have something to offer everyone,” Castro said. “Libraries are the backbone of our communities, and these grants will ensure they have even more resources to give back to the residents who rely on them.”

CARPENTERSVILLE – Elgin-area residents will have the opportunity to securely shred personal documents next month thanks to an event sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin).

“Fraud and identity theft have been on the rise, so events like this are a great way to make sure your personal information is safely disposed,” Castro said. “I encourage folks to come out Sept. 25 to declutter your filing cabinets and keep your identity safe.”

In 2020, there were 4.8 million cases of identity theft and fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission. The Better Business Bureau recommends shredding outdated documents like bank statements, medical bills, and pay stubs to ensure that sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands.

Residents will have the opportunity to safely get rid of documents at the shred day event at the Dundee Township Park District Adult Activity Center located at 665 Barrington Avenue, Carpentersville from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. The shred day is a joint effort between Castro, State Rep. Anna Moeller (D- Elgin), and KCT Credit Union.

“Document destruction is important for a variety of reasons, but none more important than the prevention of identity theft,” said Yvonne Irving, who serves as Vice President of Business and Community Outreach at KCT Credit Union. “Protect your privacy, reduce the threat of possible identity theft and fight fraud by properly disposing of sensitive documents.”

Learn more and get the latest updates on the event’s Facebook page.

SPRINGFIELD – This year, State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) spearheaded a measure to enhance the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors Act in order to encourage people to report crimes without fear of jeopardizing their immigration status. The legislation was signed into law on Monday.

“Everyone deserves to be able to protect themselves from crime, and a big part of that is having the ability to report wrongs against them or their loved ones to law enforcement,” Castro said. “The VOICES Act and these enhancements will help both victims harmed by criminal activity and law enforcement looking to investigate the criminal activity.”

The VOICES Act was initially passed to ensure that immigrant survivors of trafficking and certain qualifying violent crimes will have uniform access to the U or T visa throughout the state. In order for an immigrant survivor of crime to qualify for U or T visas, they must first obtain a signed certification from the relevant law enforcement agency affirming the applicant’s willingness to cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of the case.

SPRINGFIELD – Under a new law championed by State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin), immigrants from age 18 to 21 will now see increased protections in line with federal law.

“The young people who will be affected by this law are some of the most vulnerable in our state,” Castro said. “I am glad to see this extension of protections signed into law, bringing Illinois in line with what is already practiced at the federal level.”

The law allows a court hearing a case under the Juvenile Court Act to designate a young adult as a “special immigrant minor.” This allows the court to place the young adult with a guardian if it is not viable to place them with a parent due to neglect, abuse or abandonment.