Illinois plans to allocate an additional $160 million in taxpayer funds to assist the growing number of migrants arriving from the southern U.S. border.
This move has raised concerns among some state legislators, who argue that taxpayer dollars should be used to care for citizens, not non-citizens.
Governor J.B. Pritzker defended the allocation, stating that the funding is necessary to address the needs of asylum seekers. (Trending: Obama’s Sick Move Against Israel)
“The state, alongside our local partners, has led a comprehensive data-driven analysis of the ongoing asylum seeker response, rooted in not only data but also input from frontline partners and new arrivals, which identified several ‘bottlenecks’ where services and resettlement tended to slow,” Pritzker said.
However, some legislators are calling for a reconsideration of the plan, emphasizing that taxpayer funds should prioritize the needs of citizens.
“We have people who need housing; we have people who need to be fed. Everyone has issues, but in Chicago, this is a real issue,” Rep. David Friess said.
“Here we are spending millions and millions of dollars on people who are here illegally.”
“From the state that has met hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding for shelter, staff, food, healthcare, transportation, rental assistance, direct funding to the city of Chicago and more,” Pritzker added.
“It is what has been required to meet this moment.”
The state has already spent over $500 million on caring for the migrants.
“These are taxpayer funds that he is diverting, and it’s time he reexamined his priorities and worked harder to ensure those who live and pay taxes here are taken care of first,” Sen. Andrew Chesney said.
“The flow of migrants into Chicago is a direct response to weak border and immigration policies and state-level leadership that has repeatedly rolled out the welcome mat for non-citizens. I do not support the use of taxpayer funds to assist with the crisis at our border and in Chicago.”
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