South Cook News

Mayor Kris Wasowicz of the Village of Justice has unequivocally stated that his municipality will not become a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. This assertion comes in the wake of reports that suburban areas are being offered financial incentives to accommodate these immigrants.

"Justice is not sanctuary town," Wasowicz told South Cook News.

Wasowicz's statement was made in response to recent revelations by Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Senak. According to Senak, their community was offered an $11 million state grant to facilitate the permanent resettlement of undocumented immigrants. At the League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn 2024 State of the Village Annual Meeting on Jan. 26, Senak shared this information with attendees.

"So you understand what I believe that $11 million is for us to have migrants come to Glen Ellyn and locate here and settle here and remain here, and what that would entail to accomplish that," he said.

State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) was responsible for bringing this issue into focus. As reported by DuPage Policy Journal, Howard informed the village about the availability of funds for this purpose.

The influx of undocumented immigrants into the area has prompted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to seek assistance from suburban areas in dealing with this crisis.

"He’s asking us all for support, calling out the federal government," Burr Ridge’s Mayor Gary Grasso told NBC Chicago during an interview.

Grasso also noted that Johnson specifically requested support for increased funding needs such as shelter and services for migrants, along with a demand from Washington.

This request follows a surge in drop-offs of undocumented immigrants in the Chicagoland area since December 2023. Reports indicate that over 34,000 undocumented immigrants have arrived in Illinois since mid-2022, adding urgency to calls for stronger border control measures. Last fall, Illinois allocated $42.5 million in grant funds for municipalities to accommodate undocumented immigrants. Several cities including Lake County, Elgin, Oak Park, Urbana, and Chicago have received assistance. In total, the state has allocated $500 million for the care of undocumented immigrants, as reported by Capitol News Illinois.

During a Hinsdale Village Board meeting last month where drop-offs were prohibited, officials reported being notified by a bus driver that such occurrences were expected to continue through March. The frequency of daily drop-offs throughout the state has varied, often exceeding 10 instances and at times reaching up to 800 people per day.