Lake County Gazette

Mayor Linda Lucassen of the Village of Round Lake Park has clarified the community's stance on illegal immigrants, stating that the village currently lacks the necessary ordinances and resources to accommodate migrants. This statement comes in response to regional appeals for support in managing the ongoing crisis related to illegal immigration.

Lucassen stated, "The village of Round Lake Park does not have an ordinance in place nor do we have any means to take care of migrants, no housing, etc." These comments were made in an interview with Lake County Gazette.

In a related development, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently called upon suburban mayors for assistance with the city’s escalating crisis concerning illegal immigrants. According to Gary Grasso, Mayor of Burr Ridge, Johnson is seeking federal government intervention.

Grasso told NBC Chicago that Johnson specifically requested increased funding for shelter and services for migrants, along with demands from Washington.

Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Senak recently disclosed during the League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn 2024 State of the Village Annual Meeting that his community was offered an $11 million state grant to aid in permanently resettling illegal immigrants. The issue was highlighted by State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), who informed the village about these funds' availability.

Concerns have been raised following reports that over 34,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in Illinois since mid-2022. This influx has added urgency to calls for stronger border control measures. Last fall, Illinois allocated $42.5 million in grant money for municipalities to house illegal immigrants. As reported by Capitol News Illinois, Lake County, Elgin, Oak Park, Urbana and Chicago have received state grants to assist with housing and other needs related to this issue. In total, the state has allocated $500 million towards caring for illegal immigrants.