Lake County Gazette

In light of recent revelations about state grants for migrant resettlement, Deerfield Communications Coordinator David Fitzgerald-Sullivan confirmed that Mayor Daniel C. Shapiro has not received any communication regarding such funding from the state or Deerfield’s state representatives or senators. Fitzgerald-Sullivan stressed that Deerfield’s elected leaders are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds.

"Mayor Daniel C. Shapiro reports that he has not received contact about such fund from the state or Deerfield's state representative or senator. He continues to monitor the situation," Fitzgerald-Sullivan told Lake County Gazette.

Fitzgerald-Sullivan's comments were made in response to Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Senak's recent disclosure that his community was offered an $11 million state grant to facilitate the permanent resettlement of illegal immigrants. During the League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn 2024 State of the Village Annual Meeting on Jan. 26, Senak informed attendees that the state had proposed this substantial grant to assist with migrant settlement in Glen Ellyn.

"So you understand what I believe that $11 million is for us to have migrants come to Glen Ellyn and locate here and settle here and remain here, and what that would entail to accomplish that," Senak said.

According to DuPage Policy Journal, State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) brought this issue into focus by notifying the village about the availability of funds for this purpose.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed concerns about housing illegal immigrants flooding into the area, leading him to seek assistance from suburban areas with Chicago's illegal immigrant crisis.

"He’s asking us all for support, calling out the federal government," Burr Ridge’s Mayor Gary Grasso said of Johnson during an interview with NBC Chicago.

Grasso also mentioned Johnson specifically asked for increased funding support for sheltering and providing services to migrants, along with Johnson's demand from Washington.

The request comes as drop-offs of illegal immigrants in the Chicagoland area began spiking in December 2023. Concerns have escalated due to reports stating over 34,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in Illinois since mid-2022, thereby intensifying calls for stronger border control measures. Last fall, Illinois allocated $42.5 million in grant funds for municipalities to accommodate illegal immigrants, with several cities, including Lake County, Elgin, Oak Park, Urbana, and Chicago receiving assistance. In total, the state has allocated $500 million for the care of illegal immigrants, according to Capitol News Illinois.

During a Hinsdale Village Board meeting last month where drop-offs were prohibited, officials reported being notified by a bus driver that such occurrences were expected to continue through March. The frequency of daily drop-offs throughout the state has varied, often exceeding 10 instances. At times, almost 800 people per day have been dropped off, according to another report from DuPage Policy Journal.