|
Illinois has received about 50,000 non-citizen migrants since
August 2022, with taxpayers picking up the tab for food,
shelter, health care, education and legal services.
During a news conference Tuesday, House Minority Leader Tony
McCombie, R-Savanna, said Illinois’ undocumented immigrant
population is putting a strain on the state’s resources.
“Whether it's the housing or SNAP or whatever program they’re on
it’s becoming a drain on our system, so that’s a real concern,”
said McCombie.
The Trump administration launched an immigration enforcement
blitz nationwide in January that included multiple federal
agencies and targeted the criminal element. Gov. J.B. Pritzker
has vowed to resist President Trump’s deportation policies,
including those targeting what he calls law-abiding illegal
immigrants.
Illinois law prohibits state and local law enforcement from
cooperating with immigration officials, if the only thing they
have is a detention order.
Senate Republicans introduced legislation that would require
local authorities to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement officials and undo the Trust Act, which prohibits
law enforcement from assisting in immigration enforcement.
Recently, two migrants, one from Venezuela and the other from
Ecuador, were charged in the killing of a 63-year-old man in
Norwood Park after police found the victim tied up and duct
taped in his basement in an apparent robbery.
State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, said the Pritzker
Administration is allowing hardened criminals to remain in
Illinois.
“We’ve got some pretty bad people here and for this state and
this governor to sit there and say we are not going to help
getting rid of the worst of the worst, he should resign,” said
Cabello.
House Republicans are calling for hearings to allow law
enforcement, city officials and impacted community members to
testify to determine the impact, including how much is the open
door policy costing Illinois taxpayers, and how many illegal
immigrants have been charged with a crime but were released from
custody. |
|
