A recent Bloomberg News report points to the massive influx of migrants and illegal immigrants who are heading to Illinois once they enter the United States. The article examined the addresses provided by migrants for immigration court cases. According to the report’s metrics, there was an increase of 821% in the number of migrants listing an Illinois address from just 2021 to 2023.
Governor JB Pritzker has made it a major priority of his administration to provide services for migrants and illegal immigrants, stating that he wanted to make Illinois the “Most Welcoming State in the Nation” for non-citizens. Illinois is one of just two states providing free healthcare for non-citizens, along with numerous other taxpayer-funded services. When Pritzker took office, spending on non-citizen programs was just a few million dollars per year, but that has ballooned to roughly $1 billion per year over the last two years.
Last week, the Governor presented his annual budget proposal, including $1 billion in tax increases on families and businesses. It’s no coincidence that the Governor’s tax hike proposals so closely match up with the amount his administration has been spending on migrant/illegal immigrant services. It’s clear the Governor needs to focus on programs helping Illinois citizens, instead of using the taxpayers to fund his myriad of programs for migrants and illegal immigrants.
I have created a petition you can sign if you are opposed to the $1 billion in Pritzker tax hikes that would support programs for migrants and illegal immigrants. Click here to sign the petition.
Senator Chesney’s Plan to Address the Migrant/Illegal Immigrant Crisis
With a complete lack of leadership on the migrant/illegal immigrant issue from the Pritzker Administration, I have filed legislation that addresses the crisis from several angles.
My Senate Bill 3596 would accomplish the following:
- Reinstating Cooperation between Federal, State, and Local Authorities: Repeals the TRUST Act of 2017 which prohibits law enforcement from working with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to ensure immigration laws are enforced.
- Elimination of Free Healthcare for Noncitizens: Repeals areas of Illinois law that provide for free or nearly free healthcare for migrants and illegal immigrants, a program that is expected to cost Illinois taxpayers at least $900 million in Fiscal Year 2025.
- Decreasing the Migrant/Illegal Immigrant Population in IL: Creates a budget fund of $10 million to help migrants and illegal immigrants travel back to their home country or to a different state in the U.S.
I also filed Senate Resolution 746. Substantive immigration reform must take place at the federal level, and the United States needs a Homeland Security Secretary who acknowledges the crisis and commits to enforcing current immigration laws passed by the U.S. Congress. SR 746 supports the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Click here to learn more about how I am working to address the migrant/illegal immigrant crisis.
Chesney Visits with Administration and Staff of Freeport Park District
While legislators are headed back to the Capitol this week to continue vetting bills for th3 2024 spring session, last week we were back in our home districts tending to the needs of our constituents.
I had an opportunity during the week to visit with the administration and staff of the Freeport Park District. We talked about future park district projects and also about some legislative issues.
The Freeport Park District protects and enhances more than 800 acres of owned and leased property, which it operates and maintains. The District has an aquatic center, a 36-hole golf course and driving range, a nature preserve, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a boat rental facility, a historical museum, ball fields, and a skate park.
