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* Tribune…
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is asking Illinois state legislators for $54 million to help fund emergency services to asylum-seeking individuals and migrants.
Lightfoot made the request in a letter to state legislators from Chicago, obtained by the Tribune. She noted that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration sent a letter to the city saying the state is “out of funds and will no longer be able to support city migrant services efforts as of February 1, 2023.”
Now, scroll all the way to the end of the article…
A letter to city officials signed by Alicia Tate-Nadeau, the director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and Grace Hou, secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, said the state has spent more than $120 million and helped provide shelter and services to 3,700 people. But the state agencies “have exhausted all available fiscal resources for the operation of the asylum seeker mission,” said the letter, obtained by the Tribune.
The $120 million figure is incorrect, but it’s not off by much. From the governor’s office…
• The state has spent or committed to an estimated $116.4M to date on the asylum seeker emergency response.
o $61.6M for contracted staff who provided on site case management and other services at multiple locations including management for both city and state operations.
o $8.0M committed for Interim Housing
o $3.9M for health screenings for asylum seekers
o $29.4M for hotel, transportation and housing costs
o $13.5M for DHS provided assistance (legal, rental, shelters)
So, that’s about $31,000 per asylum seeker.
* From a Sun-Times editorial…
It should come as no surprise the state’s well is about to run dry. The state doesn’t have unlimited cash. Nor does the city, which in December alone spent $7 million on migrant services. And as one lawmaker told us, budget priorities have to be set. As he put it, “What about the people living in tents who are already here?”
Yep. The state and the city got dumped on by a Texas governor and the state and city both had robust reactions to the stunt-based influx, but that spending is just not sustainable. Meanwhile, here’s what the state is spending on our own homeless problem…
• In FY23, 16 State agencies participating in the Interagency Commission on Homelessness will manage $564.8M in programs that are homeless dedicated or where homeless households are prioritized for assistance.
o Federal - $256.1M
o State - $211.6M
o Federal Stimulus - $98.1M
The asylum seekers were thrust upon the state and the city, so I have zero problems with their rescues being heavily prioritized. It would, however, be nice to see the same enthusiasm and sense of purpose infused into helping homeless people all over this state.
* Fortunately, the recently passed federal appropriations ominbus has about $800 million in grants available for the asylum seekers in all the states which are being dumped on. And the state is finally changing its approach to the problem because the past spending pattern can’t continue this way…
In a statement, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office noted the state has already spent $120 million to support asylum-seekers but said state officials are working with the Lightfoot administration to “transition from emergency operations” to building a capacity “to handle these critical operations in a streamlined and efficient manner.” […]
“Our administration is pleased that additional federal funds were included in the latest spending bill signed by President (Joe) Biden and the state will apply for those dollars as soon as possible,” said Jordan Abudayyeh, a Pritzker spokeswoman. […]
Jaclyn Driscoll, a spokeswoman for Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, said in a text message that “we are reviewing” the mayor’s request, while Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s spokeswoman, Liz Mitchell, said Harmon “will be discussing it with members of the caucus.”
The city has been renovating the vacant Wadsworth Elementary School to house the asylum seekers starting as early as this week, which should cut down on daily out of pocket costs.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 12:48 pm
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The Biden administration and national Democrats need to quit playing defense to placate nativists and propose real reforms to our immigration system. Securing borders is a canard, these aren’t invaders, they’re people that need help and want to earn a living and keep their families safe. We should welcome them.
Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:10 pm
I agree with Excitable Boy, they all said. (or, at least, they all should)
Comment by notsosure Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:22 pm
Excitable boy, I agree but the challenge is congress. Bush had immigration reform proposed, Obama tried, the Senate passed reform in 2013 and it died in the house. Then throw in the Supreme Court. No one has been able to effect change since 1986. So we will operate under archaic rules, with people fleeing failing countries. I agree we should welcome them. Many people fleeing are skilled workers that we desperately need. We need to find a way to process and get work permits to these folks faster but the courts shot that down in 2021. These poor folks are caught between two parties who neither have vested interested in solving the problem. For both parties lack of action serves as great way to rally their base.
Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:59 pm
I agree with both of the above, not to mention that with the bump in retirees (which should have been forseeable) and the Fed talking about a labor shortage, extra bodies might be useful.
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 1:59 pm
Excitable Boy is spot on. Well said.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 2:00 pm
== Yep. The state and the city got dumped on by a Texas governor and the state and city both had robust reactions to the stunt-based influx, but that spending is just not sustainable. ==
The city of Chicago can’t handle an influx of 3,700 people because they say it’s unsustainable. Yet the city of El Paso, Texas, receives over 1,000 (and as high as 2,500 recently) migrants every single day. Yes, that’s daily. I understand that these people need help, but why should El Paso be expected to do it all themselves when a city with 4 times the population can’t handle a few days worth? We need to start enforcing immigration laws until a long-term solution is developed. If Democrats want open borders, then change the laws but then also come up with a plan to place the burden on the entire country, not just on the border cities. Until then, the stunt being pulled is Joe Biden’s.
Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 2:05 pm
We’re all a nation of immigrants.
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 2:08 pm
Still waiting on Mexico to pay for the wall. Until then the stunt being pulled is by 45/former steak salesman.
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 2:11 pm
Out of money at 3,700 people? I’m not worrying until it gets to 6 digits. Until then, plan, find money, solve the problem.
Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 2:17 pm
It is a National problem and Feds should pay for it all over and I think ship wherever they can safely and not just keep them all boarder states
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 2:31 pm
So Lightfoot wants money for Chicago, but there are also asylum seekers staying at hotels in Elk Grove Village and Des Plaines, including kids going to schools in Des Plaines. Has legislation to fund the “operation of the asylum seeker mission” been introduced, is it going to include the suburbs? Is there a bill to read?
Comment by Tom Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 3:23 pm
To Occasionally - how can you of anyone say that the problem resides with Gov Abbott- Texas and the other Boarder states likely have to deal with as many as 50 times as many migrants on a daily basis yet the Biden Administration has only encouraged the folks to enter illegally. The feds aren’t bailing out TX or AZ so why should they help out Illinois or NY. Fix the Border along with the dreamers but it’s not an either or. It’s both - anyone you claims the border is closed is a flat out liar
Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 4:01 pm
A local hotel (a national chain hotel) has been housing refugees in the North suburbs. I am mystified as to how the government can keep footing the bills for lodging and expenses. Amazon and UPS drivers keep making deliveries to the guests who also have been given spending money.
I have no idea as to what government agency is paying the bills.
Comment by Gravitas Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 4:04 pm
- We need to start enforcing immigration laws -
Those are meaningless words strung together. These are migrants seeking legal asylum. We don’t allocate enough resources to process their applications so they wait endlessly. It’s cruel and serves no purpose other than satisfying racists who just plain don’t like seeing more non-white people in this country.
Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 4:05 pm
$31,000 per person? Is that a typo?
Comment by In Dupage Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 4:06 pm
===yet the Biden Administration has only encouraged the folks to enter illegally.===
Cite, please.
===The feds aren’t bailing out TX or AZ so why should they help out Illinois or NY===
States Rights, I mean… lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 4:06 pm
=== If Democrats want open borders, then change the laws but then also come up with a plan to place the burden on the entire country===
They don’t. They don’t even act like it. When Carter signed the Refugee Act of 1980 we were taking in 200,000 refugees a year. Fiscal year 2022 we took in only 25,464 refugees.
Comment by Betty Draper’s cigarette Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 5:42 pm
=== anyone you claims the border is closed is a flat out liar.===
We don’t have an open border. I’m not a flat out liar. Read the sources.
Comment by Betty Draper’s cigarette Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 5:43 pm
== Those are meaningless words strung together. These are migrants seeking legal asylum. ==
There is a legal way to seek legal asylum, and it doesn’t include crossing the Rio Grande under the cover of darkness.
Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Jan 3, 23 @ 6:09 pm
=== We need to start enforcing immigration laws until a long-term solution is developed.===
“For the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2022, CBP stopped migrants more than 2,766,582 times, compared to 1.72 million times.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/migrant-border-crossings-fiscal-year-2022-topped-276-million-breaking-rcna53517
Now that’s a whole lotta enforcing.
=== If Democrats want open borders===
Nothing indicates the Democrats want open borders. When Carter signed the Refugee Act of 1980 we were taking in over 200,000 refugees a year. Now we are taking in a little over a tenth of that, even less than the first two years of Trump’s presidency.
===anyone you claims the border is closed is a flat out liar.===
It’s not closed, but you need a passport to cross it. It’s also not “open.”
See sources above.
Comment by Betty Draper’s cigarette Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 6:27 am