Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has committed to protecting undocumented immigrants in his state from potential deportation by federal authorities. Speaking with MSNBC’s Joy Reid, Pritzker emphasized his dedication to supporting these residents, stating, “I’m going to do everything I can to protect our undocumented.
They’re residents of our state, and I also need to ensure that whatever the federal government is doing in our state is within the bounds of federal and state law.”
Pritzker’s remarks come amid President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to tackle illegal immigration. Trump has promised to launch a mass deportation initiative on his first day in office, targeting between 15 million and 20 million undocumented individuals.
Pritzker, however, expressed concerns over the impact on law-abiding immigrants, many of whom are working, paying taxes, but not receiving benefits from those taxes. “We have a law in Illinois called the TRUST Act, which prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities,” Pritzker noted.
Illinois has already spent significant amounts—$2.84 billion since 2022—supporting undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers in the state. Chicago, in particular, has become a focal point of the ongoing migrant crisis, exacerbated by Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, who has sent nearly 40,000 migrants to the city in the last two years. The influx has strained city resources, creating challenges in providing adequate shelter, food, and medical care for the migrants.
While Pritzker is taking a strong stance in support of migrants, he has also criticized Texas Governor Abbott’s decision to send them to Illinois, suggesting that other cities or states should bear the burden.
“There are plenty of other cities where, if he’s going to send people, they could be sent—but no, he’s choosing only Democrat states and Democrat cities,” Pritzker said in January, highlighting the political dynamics surrounding the ongoing migrant crisis.