By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
Gov. Pritzker can thank Pres. Joe Biden and Gov. Gregg Abbott for Illinois’ 2024 population gain, the state’s first pickup in years. Pritzker has long denied Illinois population woes, but now a spike in the number of illegal immigrants in Illinois – whether they came by bus or other means – meant the Prairie State was finally able to break its long population-loss streak.
Overall, Illinois reported a population increase of 68,000 because of the immigrant spike. The Census Bureau’s new methodology showed a jump in net immigrants, up to 113,000 this year and far higher than in previous years. Net natural increase (births minus deaths) also netted Illinois 11,000 new people. Offsetting that was the domestic migration of Illinoisans to other states, which continued to be negative as nearly 57,000 net people left for other states – still the nation’s third-worst performance.
The jump in international migrants to Illinois is significant. In 2021, the Census Bureau estimated just 11,000 net migrants came to Illinois. In 2022 and 2023, it averaged about 35,000 yearly. The 2024 number is triple that.
Illinois’ international migration growth is just a part of a nationwide wave. Even perennial population losers California and New York gained population this year, 233,000 and 130,000 respectively, due to a huge influx of migrants. California saw 360,000 net migrants arrive and New York had more than 200,000.
In all, the Census Bureau counted more than 2.7 million migrants entering the country between July of 2023 and July of 2024. That led the bureau to report: Net International Migration Drives Highest U.S. Population Growth in Decades.
As for Illinois, as reported by the Center for Immigration Studies, the state now has more than 530,000 illegal immigrants living here.
Illinois’ net population is still down since 2020, with a loss of 112,000 people overall. It remains the 3rd-worst population performance in the country over that four-year period. More details on the way.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- Another annual Census migration report, another 93,000 net loss of Illinoisans to other states
- Illinois’ rich, young residents join the exodus to other states
- ‘Welcoming’ programs increase the cost of illegal immigration in Illinois by at least $2.2 billion
- Up to $410 million extra being spent on children of illegal immigrants at Chicago Public Schools
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 Flintstone should immediately start lobbying for an extra congressional seat to be awarded.
These are illegal aliens not migrants.
Illinois should be thankful that someone is moving there. High income earners are fleeing in ever increasing numbers, for good reason.
It takes Illinois months, if not years (through a bloated committee of appointments) to get anything done. The only thing they can do fast is raise taxes and apparently, count illegals in the population. And just like taxes, you know the number is way worse than they are admitting.
But the most important streak of tax revenue loss due to out migration continues.
Schools are now 28% Hispanic. Whites 45%. Blacks 16%.
the invasion has taken over. Hope you speak Espanol.
In some places, yes, but the segregation is accelerating and there’s almost nothing the politicians can do about it. I have a friend who lives in a decent area in Cook County but the local elementary school is not good. Twenty years ago it was good, but these days, it’s not good at all. There’s several lower income areas that feed into that school. Decades ago it was eastern european immigrants who lived there on their way up the income ladder – many from the former USSR – and nearly of the students were high performing. These days its like… Read more »
Illegals shouldn’t be counted in the census.
I think if Democrats. had any balls they would put a “DEMOCRAT” sign in their law so illegals could easily identify the homes where they can see food and shelter.
YouBY ( your back yard ) say the Dems, following the Martha’s Vineyard playbook.
Totally agree. As well as any Business exec’s who hire them.
And how many have marketable jobs skills? None you say? Funny how media lapdogs always show a poor immigrant family but independent journalists show, with photos and videos, tens of thousands of single military age males crossing the border. Then there’s the 500K children nobody can find.
It for the children ….. just not your children!
Kudos, Old Joe!
Is this good? I dont think so. More illegals that contribute nothing and cant assimilate all thrown on the backs of overburdened citizens. How many criminals and terrorists included? Who knows since there is no vetting. Can’t wait to see our land taxes, sales taxes, income taxes, and other taxes go up due to this”victory”.
No doubt Pritzker’s media lapdogs will trumpet this as a huge success. Does anybody even watch the local Chicago affiliates anymore? Would be nice to see the viewership statistics for the 10pm newscasts. Those anchors used to be local celebrities. I couldn’t pick them out of a lineup now. As for population stats, that’s another Pritzker L.
If you want to pick them out (Why?), just head to any local gay/ trans/ angry militant themed event. They’ll be there supporting it under the guise of reporting.
For years I’ve stated that channel 9 is DNC TV.
Immigrants, documented or otherwise, contribute more to society than the average person who whines about them. Happy to have them here to start businesses and alleviate worker shortages in sectors that need them.
P. S. Even undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than us citizens
P.S. https://cis.org/Bensman/While-Illegal-Aliens-Kill-and-Rape-Bogus-Crime-Comparisons-Still-Blunt-Solutions
“Even undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than us citizens.” Source?
S/he don’t need no sources – you must be a racist!
FYI – sarcasm.
Not true but I give a shite,I’m leaving this state and going to a red state,Democrats are not the good people of yesterday
Great news. This should make you ecstatic. Just to help them get their businesses up and running how much in additional taxes are you willing to pay. Come on now. Put your money where your mouth is. The $500 million they cost taxpayers last year is a good start, but more is needed. Pony up.
It can’t cost that much to fund basement tamale kitchens, sidewalk barbering services, curbside auto repairs and sidewalk flea markets, all devoid of silly stuff like business licenses, heath department inspections or tax stamps. Doing the jobs ( legal )Americans won’t do.
https://archive.fo/Qes02#selection-737.163-737.167
Too much blue koolaid.
Residents of other countries that can’t enter commit ZERO crimes in our country.
Yeah, I can see how uneducated, sickly, possibly criminal people by the millions in the country illegally will lift us up and give us an epiphany. Having them as an unwanted financial burden to bear surely does us wonders.
LOL little did you know that in sanctuary jurisdiction crimes against illegal immigrants are mostly dropped or reduced by judges because convictions can affect someone’s immigration status. In Cook County they admonish illegal immigrants at the beginning of every case saying “this could affect your immigration status” and then the prosectuor goes ooooops! sorry about that judge, charges dropped or reduced! So when you say fewer crimes, you really mean ‘fewer convictions’
GIGO buddy, immigrant crime data is GIGO
Because we have no Republican judges or decent lawmakers, Durban needs to go
BS they need to go,so does our governor
What great news for you sheep! I’m sure those “immigrants” are not welfare leeches that will be putting much more pressure on your already stretched resources. I am also sure the people that left pay zero tax dollars into your system. It’s probably a win win. AT least that is what Toilets will claim. This is a victory for his agenda. He has solved all your problems.
I disagree I don’t know about IL.But I wish I had free rent,free debit card with 3000 a month to spend and free phones FREE FREE FREE!