(The Center Square) – Citing ballooning taxpayer costs and public safety concerns, some Illinois lawmakers are calling for an end to the state’s sanctuary policies.
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.