West Central Reporter

State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer has introduced a bill to repeal the TRUST Act, which designates Illinois as a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants. The TRUST Act, implemented in 2017, prevents local law enforcement agencies in Illinois from participating in immigration enforcement.

Rep. Davidsmeyer argues that the surge in migrants coming to Illinois cannot be ignored, and that the state has become a safe haven for illegal immigrants. He asserts that Illinois offers free healthcare benefits, driver's licenses, housing assistance, and other taxpayer-funded benefits to undocumented immigrants. In light of this, he believes it is time to end the state's sanctuary status.

House Bill 4187, proposed by Rep. Davidsmeyer, aims to repeal the TRUST Act and allow local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The legislation is seen as necessary to curb the influx of undocumented immigrants into Illinois. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, there are approximately 628,000 undocumented immigrants in Illinois, costing taxpayers an estimated $2.9 billion annually.

Chicago, a sanctuary city, is facing both humanitarian and budgetary challenges due to the migrant crisis. More than 18,500 migrants have been transported to Chicago from border states, and the city is projected to spend $361 million in 2023 to deal with the crisis. To alleviate the financial burden, Chicago has requested hundreds of millions of dollars from the State of Illinois.

The cost of Illinois' healthcare benefits program for undocumented immigrants has also become a concern. The program's estimated cost has reached $1.1 billion, prompting Illinois House Republicans to file House Resolution 220. The resolution calls for a moratorium on enrollment and expansion of the benefits program, as well as an audit of program costs. However, Illinois Democrats have deferred the responsibility to Governor Pritzker.

In response to the ballooning costs of taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants, Rep. Davidsmeyer is calling for an end to such benefits. He emphasizes that taxpayers cannot afford to shoulder the burden while healthcare costs for citizens continue to rise.

To garner support for his legislation, Rep. Davidsmeyer has launched an online petition on his website, CDDavidsmeyer.org. The petition aims to gather signatures in favor of repealing the TRUST Act and ending Illinois' sanctuary state status for undocumented immigrants.

The proposed bill and the arguments made by Rep. Davidsmeyer highlight the ongoing debate surrounding sanctuary states and the costs associated with providing benefits to undocumented immigrants. As the issue continues to be a contentious topic, it remains to be seen how the legislation will progress and what impact it will have on the state of Illinois.

Click this link to access more information: https://cddavidsmeyer.org/2023/10/25/davidsmeyer-files-bill-to-end-illinois-sanctuary-for-undocumented-immigrants/