Cuts Hurt Families, Deprive Illinois Residents of Immigration’s Fiscal Benefits
Statement by Mary Meg McCarthy, Executive Director, Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s sudden elimination of funding for all immigrant services denies hardworking immigrants the opportunity to contribute to Illinois’ prosperity and deprives residents of the fiscal benefits of being an immigrant-friendly state.
Even though immigrant services bring $5 in state tax revenue for every $1 spent, last Friday Governor Rauner discontinued immigrant services funding for Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) and 60 other organizations. This funding suspension threatens NIJC’s ability to provide free legal services to indigent asylum seekers and legal clinics for immigrant youth applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Only one month ago, Governor Rauner told a gathering of business leaders and policy makers, “We must find a way together to get comprehensive immigration reform done and encourage hardworking honest families who want to be part of our community to become American citizens.” He frequently talks about his grandparents who immigrated to the United States seeking economic opportunities. The governor’s funding suspensions not only undermine his support for immigration reform, but would mean that if his grandparents arrived today, Illinois would turn its back on them.
The cuts will dismantle the state’s infrastructure of immigrant services, prevent families from pursuing citizenship, and block immigrant residents’ access to legal, educational, and technical assistance that is critical to ensure they can contribute to and integrate into our communities. Furthermore, these cuts deprive Illinois residents of the economic benefits that we’ve long reaped as a state that welcomes immigrants. Studies have shown that access to deferred action for immigrant parents and childhood arrivals could increase Illinois’ tax revenue by $347 million in just five years. But without the state funding that allows affordable legal service programs to reach these communities, many families will be unable to apply for immigration status that allows them to engage in our economy.
NIJC calls on Governor Rauner to restore funding for immigrant services immediately.
Take Action: Call Governor Rauner at 217-782-0244 and demand he restore funding for Illinois' immigrant services. Click here to send an email.