East Central Reporter

Chris Miller, a representative for Illinois' House District 101, said that the closure of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Chicago office aligns "with an executive order prohibiting access to federal funds" by illegal immigrants. He made this statement in a Facebook post on March 8.

"Administrator Kelly Loeffler made the announcement as part of an initiative she says is in compliance with an executive order from President Donald Trump that prohibits access to federal funding from being given to individuals without legal status in the United States," said Miller, State Representative, according to Facebook.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced changes aimed at prioritizing Americans. The SBA plans to relocate the Chicago office to a more affordable and accessible location that complies with federal immigration law. This move is part of a broader policy affecting other regional offices in sanctuary cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Denver, New York City, and Seattle. Additionally, the SBA will require citizenship verification for loan applications, and lenders must confirm that businesses are not owned by individuals without legal status. These measures were outlined in an SBA news release. The agency will also focus on empowering legal and eligible business owners across the United States.

Screenshot of State Representative Chris Miller's March 8 Facebook post | State Representative Chris Miller's Facebook page

According to an NBC 5 Chicago report on March 7, mayors from four sanctuary cities testified before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding their cities' policies that limit cooperation between local police and federal immigration enforcement. Participants included Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, New York Mayor Eric Adams, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Johnson said that mischaracterizations and fear-mongering could not obscure the fact that crime is declining in Chicago. He explained that state law prevents police from cooperating with federal immigration efforts in civil cases. In Chicago, city officials are prohibited from inquiring about immigration status or disclosing such information to federal authorities or denying services based on immigration status.

Miller was first elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives in 2019 and is a native of Illinois. A third-generation cattle farmer and grain operator, he resides in Hindsboro and owns a large farm in northern Coles County. Miller earned an associate degree in agriculture from Lake Land College and holds a Bachelor of Science in Education.