When longtime Illinois politician Jim Oberweis ran for Congress in 2020, he stood out on one major issue — and not in the way most conservatives would expect.

The Only Republican to Support Amnesty

In a 2020 debate for Illinois’ 14th Congressional District, six Republican candidates laid out their plans to secure the southern border. Every one of them emphasized stronger enforcement, E-Verify, and ending birthright citizenship.

Jim Oberweis, however, wasn’t at the debate — but in his campaign questionnaire, he made his position clear: he supported a path to citizenship for so-called “Dreamers,” the children of undocumented immigrants under the DACA program.

That made Oberweis the *only* Republican candidate in the race to support amnesty for this group.

Typical Illinois Politics

For decades, Oberweis ran for various offices across Illinois — governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, and more — often shifting tone depending on the race. While Illinois Republicans have long tried to appeal to a liberal-leaning electorate, Oberweis’ stance on immigration reflected that pattern: softer on enforcement, more open to legalization.

It was a position far more in line with establishment or moderate Republicans from blue states than with the border-security-first platform that defined the national GOP under President Trump.

What He Said Then

In the *Daily Herald* candidate questionnaire, Oberweis said he supported “a path to citizenship for the Dreamers,” but opposed automatic citizenship for their parents. He also noted that his company, Oberweis Dairy, had used E-Verify for years and that he supported a border wall.

Still, his support for amnesty set him apart from the field — and marked one of the few times a Republican in that race publicly backed legalization for undocumented immigrants.

The Bigger Picture

At the time, Illinois’ 14th District included parts of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties — all within the Chicago metro area, where immigration and suburban moderation shaped GOP primaries.

Oberweis lost that race to Democrat Lauren Underwood in November 2020.

Now, as he reemerges on the political scene in Florida, his past record in Illinois — particularly his support for amnesty — is getting new attention.

Source: [Daily Herald – “GOP congressional candidates for the 14th address illegal immigration” (Jan. 31, 2020)]