Rockford Sun

A group of Republican legislators in Illinois is taking action to address the overwhelming migrant crisis that is straining state and community resources. State Senators Andrew Chesney and Dave Syverson, along with Assistant House Republican Leader John M. Cabello and State Representative Joe Sosnowski, gathered at a Capitol press conference to discuss the causes of the crisis and propose potential solutions.

The lawmakers attribute the influx of migrants to weak border policies by the Biden Administration and Illinois laws that act as incentives for undocumented individuals to come to the state. Senator Chesney expressed frustration with the state's welcoming stance towards migrants, stating, "We have a governor and a Chicago mayor who loudly proclaim that Illinois welcomes anyone, regardless of their immigration status, so they shouldn’t be surprised when they show up."

One incident that highlighted the chaos caused by the migrant crisis was the unexpected arrival of a plane filled with over 350 migrants at the Rockford airport. Senator Chesney described how this event threw airport and local officials into a state of panic and emergency mode, raising concerns about the possibility of more planes carrying migrants landing in Rockford.

In response to the crisis, the legislators plan to introduce several pieces of legislation. One proposal aims to repeal portions of the Trust Act that prohibit collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Leader Cabello emphasized the need to repeal the Trust Act, stating, "Repealing the TRUST Act is absolutely required to solve the Illinois illegal immigration crisis and it’s the right thing to do for the citizens of this state."

Another proposed policy seeks to roll back laws that provide free healthcare for migrants and illegal immigrants in Illinois, a program that has exceeded its yearly appropriation within the first month. Senator Syverson expressed concern over the ballooning cost of the program, stating, "Yet programs to help Illinoisans with developmental disabilities...have been shortchanged for years." The legislators believe that the focus should be on taking care of citizens before providing healthcare to undocumented individuals.

The lawmakers also plan to introduce a bill that would provide a framework for migrants and illegal immigrants to travel back to their home countries or to other sanctuary cities or states free of charge. This initiative aims to alleviate the strain on Illinois taxpayers and ensure accountability in addressing the migrant crisis.

Representative Sosnowski highlighted the need for meaningful solutions and collaboration with Democrats, stating, "Illinois taxpayers deserve accountability and solutions; and right now both those are lacking in the Administration’s response to the migrant crisis."

The legislative package addressing the migrant crisis is currently being finalized and will be filed prior to the February 9 deadline for the introduction of bills.