By: Mark Glennon*
Gov. JB Pritzker was asked last week for his response to press conferences where some lawmakers called for an end to Illinois status as a sanctuary or welcoming state, and asked for more transparency on what’s being spent on migrants.
Here are the key parts of Pritzker’s answer, which are in a minute-and-a-half video:
The discussion about being a welcoming state or a sanctuary state, all of that discussion has always been about what are we going to do about the undocumented people that have been here for decades. They’ve been holding down jobs. They have apartments or places to live. They are essentially acting as all of the other residents of Illinois are acting…. So on the question about the challenges that are brought up in a press conference like that have zero to do with the current migration crisis that’s occurring which is being fueled by the governor of Texas…. And the governor of Texas causing problems state by state to the states he chooses to send people to, and concentrate them, that ought not be the way we address this.
That’s hogwash.
The debate about being a welcoming or sanctuary state is most certainly not about people who have been here for decades, and it couldn’t be more clear. Most of the controversy has focused on about 35,000 bused to Chicago from Texas who only recently crossed the border, and they are just the start. Last year alone, border agents recorded more than 2.4 million encounters at the Southwest border and more than 3.2 million encounters nationwide, and at least 1.7 million known gotaways have evaded apprehension since 2021.
We have little idea how many of those are ending up in Illinois beyond those bused in, although our share surely is huge. We do know that the Illinois budget includes $550 million for the health care subsidies for non-citizens in Illinois over the age of 42 – not Dreamers – and the projected annual is $833 million. The state had to freeze new enrollees last year to help contain those costs.
Pritzker was blatantly trying to misuse widespread sympathy for those called Dreamers or DACAs – those who were brought into the United States before age 16 and resided here since 2007. They are currently protected from deportation and most Americans want them naturalized in some way. They definitely are not behind today’s controversy and crisis.
As for blaming Texas Governor Abbott for busing migrants to Illinois, Pritzker’s hypocrisy is mind-blowing. Just this month, Pritzker issued yet another immigration emergency power proclamation saying Illinois is a “welcoming state,” proudly listing some of the assistance the state offers: emergency shelter and housing; food; health screenings, medical assessments and treatment; case management services including legal services and job readiness support; benefits for victims of trafficking, torture, and other serious crimes; enrollment in public schools; and longer-term housing and housing assistance.
In other words, invite the guests and shower them with gifts, then blame the delivery man when they show up.
Pritzker preceded his answer by saying he didn’t want to “give a tutorial on the difference between undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers,” asylum seekers being legally in this country, he said.
It’s good he spared us his tutorial. Asylum seekers did enter the country illegally – though they stay here legally pending a decision on their asylum status. That paradox is explained here.
More importantly, nobody should claim that those who are lying to get asylum status are here legally. Doing so is an Orwellian attempt to change the plain meaning of words.
Most migrants are economic refugees, not political refugees as they claim, thereby voiding asylum status. The vast majority of their asylum requests will be denied, often because they don’t show up for their assigned hearings. As few as 10% of asylum seekers will be granted that status, according to some. While that percentage is debated, nobody denies that over half of asylum claims will be rejected.
Here’s how the former Consul General of Venezuela in Chicago recently put it, referring to the most recent bus arrivals of Venezuelans: “When they request asylum in the United States, migrants have to say something against their government. But everyone in the Venezuelan community knows that it’s a lie.”
As usual, nobody in the Illinois media called Pritzker out on any of this. The illegal immigration crisis is surging on a foundation of lies, hypocrisy and distortion, the full consequences of which are yet to be inflicted.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
JB Pigster dishonest? No, just no way……..https://www.npr.org/2018/10/03/654201077/illinois-gov-candidate-removed-mansions-toilets-to-dodge-taxes-report-finds
Please don’t associate the words of this dictator with those of us in the southern half of the state. We are trapped without representation and without enough population to out-vote Cook County. We have been fed up with the Emergency Power Proclamations ever since Covid.
I wanted to make a comment but after a valiant fight against Amendment 1 and keeping the Invest in Kids program brought out the trolls and de-platforming from social media I felt like I was living back in Hong Kong. We are losing America, one state at a time. They have people watching everything. I applaud the work Wirepoints is doing. God bless you.
Pritzger is a lying piece of excrement
The last time Pritzker told the truth he could look down and see his feet…that was a long time ago.
The fat man can shovel with the best of them. They are all BS artists. They cannot answer a question directly because their answer doesn’t make any sense, so they have to make crap up and shout down anyone who asks questions. Pathetic.
“We have little idea how many of those are ending up in Illinois beyond those bused in, although our share surely is huge.” Well, AURORA EAST USD 131 elementary district has 12,000 students, it’s 90% hispanic, and 50% of the student population is ESL. ESL students likely aren’t born here. This means there are 5500 foreign born hispanic students just in one school district. Palatine High school with 2600 kids has jumped from 9.7% ESL students in 2018 to 22% in 2023 with over 50% of the school being hispanic. These are kids aged 14-18. Joliet Elementary schools with 9508… Read more »
dbtsor, you are better at the math than our state. Outstanding comment. I had this as a theory but you provided the proof.
Thanks
Illinois media, the very ones we trust to provide honest transparency, ignores t he realities of the situation. We can assume that these purveyors of media are awaiting Santa Pritzker with his bag full of campaign ad finance goodies to shower upon those that are nice and not naughty to the Pritzker camp. The joke is on them though because when Pritzkers money is gone they are dead fish in the water; the public is and has deserted them no longer wanting their pablum. Sad situation really because without the papers how will people line the bottom of their birdcages?
Our state should move away from the influence of ‘rich elites’ using their wealth for personal satisfaction and return to electing legislators who are genuinely committed to improving the state.
Democrats hate people, and they hate life itself. So of course anti-human Democrat policies would lead to fewer humans being born:
Lax abortion, an ongoing baby bust, high property taxes and residents of child-bearing age leave the state…. Will lead to fewer births and fewer students in elementary schools.
But Teachers Unions needs students to keep teachers employed, and a rapidly dropping student population means fewer students. Importing illegal immigrants are the only solution to this problem the teachers unions. Half of them would be out of jobs in short order if this trend continues.
WHO’S GOING TO CALL HIM OUT??? THEY ALL GET RAISES AND ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR……..RECALL HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are a Socialist state. We all must agree with him or suffer. The joke is on those agreeing with him. He’ll take care of you but you must take care of him too. He allows you to just “get by”, minimal food, no car, no house, lousey education, etc. HE IS A DICTATOR. These people who vote for him have been bought, for pennies, and paid for. And now what little Pritzker does give them is being taken away and given to illegals.
How much in 1.5 minutes? About an hour or so’s worth.
The leader of the “Usual Gang of Idiots “ stands at the podium and rattles off his
Nonsense. The news media does not challenge him because they are still drinking
The cool aid. This will bankrupt the city and drive the state into drastic spending cuts,
Wait! He can just raise taxes again.
The RTA is also looking to pick our pockets For a little more chump change.
How do you end this crap, wave bye-bye
As you leave the state.
Fat Fredo is an expert at lying. The problem is that Democrats are experts at believing lies instead of recognizing reality.
JB obviously has alot of experience cramming stuff into (and out of) his trap.
A foundation of lies, hypocrisy and distortion. Our new state motto!
It’s true. Let’s put it on our license plate.
JB believes his own BS, and surrounds himself with people who are well paid to nod their head in agreement with everything he says. Anyone who doesn’t get in line is labeled xenophobic or racist. There’s never any debate or conversation to the contrary. He would be ridiculed and avoided except he inherited billions which he uses to buy influence. He bought the governorship twice. It doesn’t make him brighter, or likable in any way. He’ll get too far over his skis eventually.
Once again, I don’t get how JB can get away with issuing Immigration Emergency Power Proclamation that applies statewide but it’s mostly only city of Chicago thats providing many of the services, specifically shelter, listed in proclamation? Shouldn’t JB be taking legal action to force all municipalities/counties to comply with emergency Proclamation?
If you let them have tyrannical power they will take it.
I’m shock there aren’t some migrant advocates bussing “new arrival” migrants to a Kenilworth and filing suit that a Kenilworth has to provided services under JBs proclamation? Or Chicago could simply do the same. Kwame would have to enforce.
The only way this all turns out well for Illinois taxpayers is if the Federal government picks up the tab for the illegals. The only way that happens is if a Dem sits in the white house. Biden however, is currently too weak politically to attempt it. I still doubt the election will be between Biden and Trump. Even though Biden will have the most dem primary votes at their convention, the delegates will be too afraid of him losing to Trump, and simply ignore the primary voters and pick someone capable of beating Trump. Since very few Dems are… Read more »
THE ILLEGALS ARE VOTING…..REMEMBER OPEN BORDERS IS THE REASON………WINNING ELECTIONS
Biden would rather give the money to Ukraine than Pritzker. And on top of that ALL of the other Governors watching their states go bankrupt because of illegal expenses will take it to the Supreme Court to get their fair share. Biden is being blackmailed by Ukraine and he’s forcing all of us to pay.