Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has joined the growing chorus of Democrats expressing concern about the influx of illegal immigrants into his state. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Pritzker cited the humanitarian crisis at the border that has resulted in over 15,000 people migrating to Illinois.
Pritzker started his letter by acknowledging the kindness and generosity of the people of Illinois towards asylum seekers. He stated that his state believes in the fundamental right of all human beings to find refuge and live with dignity in the United States. However, he went on to criticize the federal government for its lack of intervention and coordination at the border, which has resulted in an untenable situation for Illinois.
The Governor expressed frustration with the actions of governors and mayors in border states, whom he accused of "shipping people like cargo" to Illinois in an attempt to score political points. He emphasized that while his state has found temporary housing for a majority of the refugees, they are struggling to keep up with the continuous flow of people and are now forced to sleep in police stations and on sidewalks. This, he stated, is a situation that cannot continue and requires immediate help from the federal government.
Pritzker highlighted the strain that the influx of immigrants is putting on the state's resources and called on President Biden to take swift action to intervene and coordinate efforts at the border. He also urged Secretary Mayorkas and the rest of the administration to step in and assist Illinois and other affected states in handling the asylum seekers.
The Governor's concerns echo those of other Democratic leaders, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has also expressed concerns about the open border and called for stronger efforts to contain immigration. On "Face The Nation," Hochul stated that the border is “too open” and that there needs to be limits in place to control who can come into the country. She also raised concerns about the high number of asylum seekers coming to the streets of New York, which she said is a real problem for the city.
As the number of migrants arriving at the border continues to increase, Democratic leaders are voicing their concerns and calling for action from the Biden administration. While they believe in the importance of providing refuge to those facing persecution, they also recognize the strain it is putting on states like Illinois and New York. It remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to these calls for help and whether stronger measures will be taken to contain the influx of illegal immigrants.