Illinois Rep. Marcus Evans Confronts Squatter Crisis Sparked by Laws He Once Backed

Illinois State Representative Marcus Evans found himself at the center of a legal and personal storm this month when squatters moved into a house directly next to his family’s home in Avalon Park, Chicago—only to discover that the laws he once supported offered little recourse to address the problem swiftly.

Evans, who represents Illinois’ 33rd District and has long been involved in housing and legislative reform, was forced to witness firsthand the very shortcomings of the legal framework he had helped shape. When the homeowners of the squatted property contacted police, they were informed that despite their proof of ownership, law enforcement could not remove the occupants without going through the drawn-out Cook County eviction process. That process—designed to protect tenant rights—can take months, leaving legitimate property owners in legal limbo.

Evans expressed deep frustration and disbelief at the situation unfolding so close to home. “I knew it was a problem, but to watch it up close, right on my own block, right here in Avalon Park has been wild,” he said. The squatters initially claimed to have purchased the property and later changed their story, saying they had rented it—yet law enforcement remained unable to act decisively under existing rules.

The irony was not lost on Evans. As a legislator, he had supported the due process rights that require formal eviction proceedings before removal—protections intended for legal tenants. But now, confronted with squatters exploiting those same protections, Evans found himself trapped by a system he once upheld.

The ordeal served as a turning point. Evans moved swiftly to call for the passage and signing of Senate Bill 1563, the so-called “Squatter Bill,” which had been gaining traction in the Illinois General Assembly. The bill, which had already passed both chambers, allows police to immediately remove unauthorized occupants from a property once ownership is verified, reclassifying such cases under criminal trespass laws rather than civil eviction procedures.

Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill into law on July 21, 2025, just days after Evans’ situation garnered public attention. The law will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Evans’ experience illustrates the difficult balance lawmakers must strike between tenant protections and property rights. In this case, the representative’s personal confrontation with the unintended consequences of housing policy added urgency and clarity to the legislative process. What began as a neighbor’s nightmare became a catalyst for reform—and a stark reminder of how policy can collide with reality, even for those who write it.

The new law is expected to significantly reduce the time and cost required for property owners to remove squatters, restoring authority to law enforcement and closing a loophole that had left homeowners vulnerable. For Evans, the lesson is personal, and the correction now signed into law is a direct response to a crisis that unfolded, quite literally, on his doorstep.