METROPOLIS, IL – State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) issued the following statement after a Congressional hearing on immigration saw three governors, including Illinois Governor Pritzker, testify about sanctuary state policies and the open borders policy of the Biden Administration.
“Today’s hearing illuminated a very real problem that we have in Illinois. Our Governor, JB Pritzker, is determined to double down on dangerous and costly Sanctuary State policies. The governor was unable to answer when asked how much money the Biden Open Borders Policy cost Illinois taxpayers. The figure is an astounding $3 billion. Undocumented immigrant housing, cash, healthcare, and other benefits have literally cost the Illinois taxpayer billions of dollars, and Governor Pritzker couldn’t even acknowledge that fact on the record.
“House Republicans, like me, have sponsored legislation to end Illinois’ Sanctuary State policy. Governor Pritzker continues to try to have it both ways. When asked if he agrees that criminal illegal aliens should be deported from our country, he says yes. However, when it comes time for our correctional officials or state or local police officers to identify criminal aliens who are eligible for deportation, Governor Pritzker has directed them not to do that. So, in public he says one thing, and in practice he does another. I believe the evidence is clear. Sanctuary State policies have cost taxpayers billions, have made our communities less safe, and have allowed violent individuals and gangs to run roughshod over our communities. I saw nothing in the Governor’s testimony today that led me to believe he will be changing course on illegal immigration any time soon.”
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