Lake County Gazette

Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi, a resident of Waukegan, said that Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are prioritizing illegal immigrants over the needs of Illinois families. In an op-ed published in the Washington Reporter, Salvi highlighted what she described as a growing fiscal crisis fueled by the state and city’s mismanagement of resources.

In her op-ed, Salvi highlighted recent statements by Pritzker, including his declaration on MSNBC that he would “do everything that [he] can to protect our undocumented immigrants.” She framed the governor’s policies as part of a larger strategy to bolster his national profile ahead of a potential 2028 presidential bid. 

“Pritzker is proudly declaring Illinois a haven for illegals,” Salvi said. “Without knowing who they are, why they are here, or what they want, Pritzker is acting as a beacon, guiding illegal border crossers including criminals into our communities.”

According to Salvi, Pritzker's policies are detrimental to Illinois taxpayers. She cited a growing financial burden linked to housing and supporting migrants while neglecting challenges such as rising homelessness and inflation. She claimed this spending on supporting illegal immigrants diverts $1 billion in resources from Illinois residents, exacerbating financial strain on families already grappling with economic instability.

“Pritzker puts mass illegal immigration before Illinois families,” Salvi said. “Pritzker has failed Illinois and our families are worse off under his far-left policies that have raised taxes and forced families and businesses to flee the state.”

In her op-ed, Salvi also tied Pritzker’s policies to Chicago’s challenges under Mayor Brandon Johnson, alleging that both leaders have mismanaged public funds. Specifically, she criticized Johnson for prioritizing migrant aid over commitments to the Chicago Teachers Union and highlighted the city’s failure to account for $400 million in spending on migrant services.

Salvi connects Illinois’s financial struggles to what she calls Pritzker’s far-left agenda and notes the state’s reliance on COVID-era federal funding to mask fiscal challenges, contrasting this with new tax hikes and budget expansions. 

“Despite this federal bailout in all but name, Pritzker has continued to grow the budget and impose billions in tax hikes,” Salvi said.

Kathy Salvi is the current chair of the Illinois Republican Party. She earned her Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and she has practiced as a partner in Salvi & Maher, LLC, a firm specializing in personal injury cases.

As an attorney and advocate, Salvi has dedicated her career to advancing issues central to Illinois conservatives, including economic growth, government accountability, and individual liberties. Since assuming the role of chair, she has focused on grassroots engagement, voter outreach, and fostering unity within the Republican base. She previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2022.