IL Gov. Pritzker provides incentives for suburbs hosting immigrants
Illinois Governor Offers Funding to Chicago Suburbs in Exchange for Housing Immigrants
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) is providing additional funding to Chicago suburbs to support their communities, but there’s a twist: the suburbs will only receive the money if they agree to accommodate immigrants who have been bused to the Windy City and neighboring towns since last year.
The state has allocated $17 million to address the migrant crisis, with over 38,000 immigrants arriving in Chicago since August 2022. Pritzker stated that the funding will be used for welcome centers, work permit applications, housing, and healthcare.
Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly have allocated $42.5 million from the General Revenue Fund to the state’s human services department in the fiscal 2024 budget. The $17 million in funds comes from an Illinois Department of Human Services program aimed at enhancing the capacity of municipalities outside of Chicago that are willing to welcome immigrants.
The grants will be distributed through a partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, with $11 million designated for suburbs to “welcome and support recent arrivals living in their communities.”
Another $4 million will be used to establish 13 Illinois Welcoming Centers, which will provide case management for immigrants seeking shelter, employment, and other resources. The remaining $2 million will be allocated to Immigrant Family Resources Program providers, who offer translation services, public benefits information, and advocacy services to help immigrants settle into their new community.
“This new funding builds on our commitment to support Illinois cities that are stepping up to help asylum seekers,” Pritzker emphasized. “As we continue to call for further federal support, and as Illinois takes a stand against the callous ways Texas Gov. Abbott is using human beings as political pawns, these grants will lend support where it is needed throughout the state.”
Immigrants board a bus after arriving on a plane from San Antonio at Chicago Rockford International Airport at 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois. City of Chicago officials said 355 immigrants on the Boeing 777 boarded eight buses chartered by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) to be dropped off in “various suburbs.” (WTVO NewsNation via AP)
Whether suburbs will accept the financial incentives to open their communities remains uncertain. Due to reaching maximum capacity, cities like Chicago have imposed strict restrictions on homeless immigrant drop-offs. As a result, bus travel companies from Texas have been finding ways to bypass the rules and drop immigrants off in suburbs such as Naperville, Illinois, and Oak Park, Illinois, so they can access transit systems into the city.
Several villages, including Schaumburg, Illinois, and Elk Grove, Illinois, have enacted ordinances to prevent immigrants from being housed in hotels. Oak Park began evicting 150 immigrants from a town hotel and the YMCA last year, with the process set to be completed by the end of this month.
“It shouldn’t be all these mayors fixing the problem,” expressed Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson in December 2023. “It’s not our job. We’re not built to handle this. Hopefully, the federal government says, OK, let’s fix this problem.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Ray Hanania, a spokesperson for Cicero, Illinois, stated last month that the town has approved a measure to fine bus companies $750 per person for releasing homeless immigrants. He believes other cities should follow suit.
“It’s wrong to drop people on the street with nowhere to go,” Hanania argued. “We think every community should do this to prevent this. They need to force the state to come up with a better plan for homeless people.”
How will the funds be utilized to support immigrants in Chicago and neighboring towns?
Illinois Governor Offers Funding to Chicago Suburbs in Exchange for Housing Immigrants
In a bid to address the ongoing migrant crisis, Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has announced additional funding for Chicago suburbs. However, there is a catch – the suburbs will only receive the funds if they agree to accommodate immigrants who have been bused to the Windy City and neighboring towns since last year.
The state has set aside $17 million to deal with the influx of immigrants, with over 38,000 arrivals in Chicago since August 2022. Governor Pritzker has stated that this funding will be utilized for welcome centers, work permit applications, housing, and healthcare for the immigrants.
To facilitate the distribution of funds, Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly have allocated $42.5 million from the General Revenue Fund to the state’s human services department in the fiscal 2024 budget. The $17 million specifically comes from an Illinois Department of Human Services program that aims to bolster the capacity of municipalities outside of Chicago that are willing to welcome immigrants.
The grants will be coordinated in collaboration with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, with $11 million earmarked for suburbs to “welcome and support recent arrivals living in their communities.” Meanwhile, another $4 million will be utilized to establish 13 Illinois Welcoming Centers. These centers will serve as case management hubs, providing immigrants with services such as shelter assistance, employment support, and other vital resources. The remaining $2 million will be allocated to Immigrant Family Resources Program providers who offer translation services, public benefits information, and advocacy services to help immigrants successfully settle into their new community.
Governor Pritzker emphasized the significance of this new funding, stating, ”This additional funding builds on our commitment to support Illinois cities that are stepping up to help asylum seekers. As we continue to call for further federal support, and as Illinois takes a stand against the callous ways Texas Gov. Abbott is using human beings as political pawns, these grants will lend support where it is needed throughout the state.”
With this initiative, Governor Pritzker aims to alleviate the strain on Chicago and create a more equitable distribution of resources by incentivizing suburban areas to open their doors to migrants. The funding will not only provide immigrants with much-needed assistance but also enable local communities to contribute to the collective responsibility of addressing the migratory challenges faced by the state.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...