Lake County Gazette

State Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) and Illinois Republican legislators are taking action to repeal the Illinois Trust Act and end the state's sanctuary status for migrants in response to the ongoing influx of non-citizens over the past 13 months.

The legislators cite concerns about the escalating taxpayer costs associated with the arrival of approximately 20,000 noncitizens in Chicago and other regions of Illinois over the past 13 months.

“House Bill 4187 repeals the Illinois TRUST Act, ending our status as a sanctuary state,” Weber said on Facebook.

Concerned about the escalating taxpayer costs associated with a surge of noncitizen arrivals, Illinois Republican legislators are taking steps to terminate the state's sanctuary status for migrants.

"One of the biggest problems we are facing right now, both from a budgetary and a humanity perspective, is the ongoing crisis at our southern border and the influx of undocumented immigrants into Illinois," State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) said, according to Illinois Radio Network.

"Yesterday, we filed House Bill 4187 to repeal the Illinois Trust Act and end our status as a sanctuary state.”

Hammond emphasized the need to address the escalating costs of caring for the influx of arrivals, estimating that the migrant crisis could cost Chicago taxpayers $361 million in 2023.

In Chicago, Ald. Silvana Tabares of Chicago's 23rd Ward is receiving praise for her leadership in rejecting a "Johnsonville" tent city meant to house illegal immigrants in her ward.

Tabares initiated a petition to voice her concerns about a migrant shelter in her district, highlighting issues like population density, school overcrowding, and stretched public safety resources.

She also plans to place a referendum on the March primary ballot to allow residents to vote on the city's sanctuary city status, encouraging her constituents to join her campaign against the shelter's construction.

The Illinois Freedom Caucus has expressed concerns over Chicago's ability to address its $500 million budget shortfall while allocating funds for the resettlement of illegal immigrants in the city.

Recent polling indicates a growing opposition to Chicago's "sanctuary city" status, with a majority of voters believing that the city's focus on housing new migrants negatively affects current residents in need, transcending partisan and demographic lines.

Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget plan raised questions earlier this year about the adequacy of funds allocated for the migrant crisis, with concerns that the city may need to rely on state and federal aid to address the shortfall.