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(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says the nonstop influx of asylum-seeking migrants to his state has become “untenable,” and once again he's calling on President Biden for increased federal help.
Pritzker’s latest SOS to the Biden Administration comes in a letter dated Monday.
In addition to seeking more funding, the Democratic governor recommends the White House select a point person to coordinate the buses being sent from the border while keeping states and cities informed.
“First and foremost, I recommend that there be one person in the federal government who works directly for you in the White House who can lead the oversight of our nation’s efforts at the border,” Pritzker wrote. “Right now, we have too many different federal department contacts — who are uncoordinated with one another — that handle various programs related to this humanitarian crisis.”
Pritzker noted more than 15,000 migrants have arrived in Illinois over the past 13 months, and busloads of asylum-seekers seem to be increasing in recent days.
His other suggestions include further streamlining the process that will allow some migrants to get work permits; sharing federal data on the migrants being sent here; providing financial support to state and local governments and private agencies for housing, food and social services.
Pritzker said Illinois has borne an “outsized burden” of the migrant crisis as border-state governors send asylum seekers as part of a political agenda.
“This is an untenable situation that has been exacerbated by a lack of federal action,” Pritzker said.
The plea comes as the Pritzker administration remains at odds with Mayor Johnson's plan to create winterized tent communities for asylum seekers. Things came to a head last week as Johnson’s council floor leader blasted state government for not doing enough.
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