South Cook News

Ashley Ramos, a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, has publicly criticized Gov. J.B. Pritzker's appeal to state lawmakers for an additional $160 million to address the migrant crisis in Chicago. Ramos voiced her concerns about the potential burden on taxpayers and disparaged what she termed as financial support for "runaway liberal politicians."

“This is completely unacceptable!” Ramos said on Facebook. “We are expected to foot the bill for runaway liberal politicians.”

Gov. Pritzker is actively encouraging state lawmakers to supplement the $160 million that was previously allocated to manage the migrant crisis in Chicago. Over the past year, the city has seen an influx of more than 30,000 migrants leading to near-full shelter capacity and logistical challenges. The Governor emphasized the need for lawmakers to consider approving a supplemental spending measure to bridge this financial gap and address the ongoing crisis, as reported by NBC Chicago.

In mid-November, Pritzker announced a funding allocation of $160 million from the Illinois Department of Human Services to tackle this crisis. The funding includes $30 million for a large intake and welcome center, $65 million for winterized tent basecamps accommodating up to 2,000 migrants, and an additional $65 million to expand support services such as legal aid and work permit assistance. This urgency for additional funds came after Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2024 budget plan was approved by the Chicago City Council; it allocated only $150 million for migrants - enough to cover just a few months of estimated costs according to CBS News.

The rising taxpayer costs associated with the surge of noncitizen arrivals have sparked concerns among Illinois Republican legislators. In 2023, steps were taken towards terminating Illinois' sanctuary status for migrants; State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) called attention to these rising costs associated with caring for this influx of arrivals - estimating that the migrant crisis could cost Chicago taxpayers an alarming $361 million in 2023.

"One of the biggest problems we are facing right now, both from a budgetary and a humanity perspective, is the ongoing crisis at our southern border and the influx of undocumented immigrants into Illinois," Hammond said, according to Illinois Radio Network. "Yesterday, we filed House Bill 4187 to repeal the Illinois Trust Act and end our status as a sanctuary state." 

Ramos resides in Bradley and has ties to Chicago Heights where she spent her early years in Momence. A graduate of Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School in 2005, she furthered her education with radiology courses at Kankakee Community College. With experience as an e-commerce specialist and a dedicated mother, Ramos brings a diverse skill set to her campaign. Additionally, she is a licensed notary and CPR certified, as indicated on her campaign website.

The 2nd Congressional District encompasses the south suburbs of Chicago, eastern Will County, most of Kankakee County and Chicago’s far southeast side. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), who has been in office since 2013. Kelly also serves as Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party according to Ballotpedia.