South Central Reporter

State Representative Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) is calling for the immediate repeal of the TRUST Act, which has designated Illinois as a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants, citing the substantial financial burden on taxpayers.

“The TRUST Act has made Illinois a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants, costing taxpayers billions. This needs to be repealed immediately,” Wilhour said on Facebook.

With an estimated 628,000 undocumented immigrants in Illinois costing nearly $3 billion annually, Wilhour's stance is supported by Illinois House Republicans, who are proposing House Bill 4187 to revoke the TRUST Act and allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

“The situation is so dire that Democratic leaders in Illinois have reached out to the White House for financial help while also asking for a federal coordinated effort to control the massive influx of undocumented immigrants at the southern border,” the Illinois House Republicans Caucus Blog reads.

The situation in Chicago is particularly pronounced, with over 18,500 migrants arriving, exacerbating the city's violence and costing taxpayers $361 million in 2023, leading to calls for the repeal of the TRUST Act.

House Bill 4187 would repeal the Illinois TRUST Act, ending the state's sanctuary status for undocumented immigrants and enabling local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, in response to the humanitarian crisis in Chicago and concerns about government benefits for migrants.

“Repeals the Illinois TRUST Act. Makes corresponding changes in the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code,” the bill’s synopsis reads.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has postponed the implementation of cost-saving co-pays for a $550 million subsidized health care program for non-citizens 65 and older, as the program is nearing its capacity, with over 16,000 enrollees.

Concerns have been raised about the financial burden on taxpayers as the number of enrollees continues to increase, and discussions are ongoing among legislators about the program's future, the Center Square reported.