East Central Reporter

The cost of providing services to illegal immigrants in Illinois is a significant burden on taxpayers, with an estimated $2.84 billion spent since July 1, 2022. This figure does not even include education expenses or other state and local services. According to repcmiller.com, the Illinois TRUST Act, enacted in 2017, has made Illinois a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants, preventing local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement efforts.

Republican lawmakers in Illinois are raising concerns about the prioritization of funding for healthcare costs for illegal immigrants, which have been rapidly increasing. As one source states, "Republican lawmakers have been adamant in questioning Illinois Democrats priorities because of their funding of the meteoric rise in healthcare costs for illegal immigrants." The significant healthcare costs for illegal immigrants over the past two years amount to over $2 billion, a staggering amount that is covered by taxpayers.

The impact of this spending is highlighted by another source, stating, "The billions of taxpayer dollars being spent on illegal immigrants directly takes away funds that could be used to support essential programs for all Illinois citizens, including seniors and those most economically and socially vulnerable." Illinois stands out as one of only five states in the country that provides Medicare-like benefits to illegal immigrants, all at the expense of taxpayers.

In response to these concerns, House Republican lawmakers in Illinois have introduced legislation to address the issue. They have proposed a moratorium on healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants through House Resolution 220 and seek to repeal the Illinois Trust Act, which designates Illinois as a Sanctuary State for illegal immigrants through House Bill 4187. These efforts aim to redirect funds towards essential programs for all Illinois citizens and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

Illegal immigration poses a significant financial challenge for Illinois taxpayers, with healthcare costs alone reaching billions of dollars. Efforts to reassess the allocation of funds and repeal sanctuary state policies are underway to address these growing costs and ensure taxpayer resources are utilized effectively.