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About 24,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago over the past
year, leading the state to spend over $500 million on migrants
this year alone.
The taxpayer funds have gone to shelters and services for the
migrants, which includes a $29 million contract with GardaWorld
Federal Services to help put shelters together, but some
shelters have fallen through.
GardaWorld was going to be setting up the shelter in Brighton
Park, but that plan failed due to environmental concerns.
On Wednesday, Pritzker was asked about GardaWorld's role in
helping with the migrant crisis.
"They are going to be involved and have been in work to help us
stand up other shelters," Pritzker said. "Bricks and mortar
shelters that already exist need work, and GardaWorld is helping
us to complete that work very quickly."
Last month, the state announced the next part of its plan, which
includes an additional $160 million investment through the
Illinois Department of Human Services, bringing the total spent
in taxpayer funds to over $500 million.
"We have not provided funding directly to the city, but we have
spent, as you know, more than half a billion dollars," Pritzker
said.
Additionally, Illinois' migrant health care subsidies are
projected to be $831 million this fiscal year, or $300 million
over budget. In total, the state is expected to spend over $1
billion on noncitizen housing, health care, and other services.
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