(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor J.B. Pritzker said Illinois government will do everything it can to help migrants sent to this state by authorities in Texas and elsewhere.
The governor's comments during an unrelated bill-signing in Springfield are his first since Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday issued an emergency declaration in hopes of freeing up additional resources.
The city estimates that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and local leaders have bused more than 8,000 Central and South American migrants to Chicago since last fall.
The governor told reporters Wednesday that the state is prepared to fulfill what he called "our obligation as Americans" to assist the migrants.
Related
"It's a humanitarian crisis," Pritzker said. "No doubt about it."
He noted the migrants are all in the U.S. legally to seek asylum, and added the federal government is obligated to help states make sure the migrants are treated appropriately.
"There's an $800 million appropriation at FEMA that is meant to support states that are challenged with this," Pritzker said. "We've not received enough of that yet, and there will be more grants given in the next month, I think."
The mayor's emergency declaration provides for her to request staffing assistance from the Illinois National Guard, but she has said she's not done that yet.
The governor did not offer a specific opinion about Lightfoot’s declaration, saying only that it's clear she felt it was necessary.
Related
Listen to our new podcast Courier Pigeon
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram