Chicago City Wire

Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) legislative advisor Tanner Bonovitch worries a proposal now being considered by lawmakers in Springfield is only the start in terms of keeping the state locked on the wrong track when it comes to immigration reform.

 “Both the Senate and House of Representatives have veto-proof Democrat majorities and Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues to advocate for even more benefits for illegal aliens, while putting Illinois citizens last,” Bonovitch said on the organization's website. “These policies are not enough for Illinois legislators who keep trying to up the ante,”

He said lawmakers' missteps includes enacting such legislation as the sanctuary law, granting driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens and offering landlord-tenant protections to illegal aliens. Bonovitch said House Bill 3171 only opens the door to more of the same.

Sponsored by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D-Chicago), the measure that now sits in the Rules Committee seeks to allow non-citizens, including illegal aliens, to be appointed to any board, commission, authority, or task force authorized or created by the state or by the governor as long as the person is 18 years of age and resides within Illinois.

Bonovitch has also recently came out in opposition to Senate Bill 1986, also known as the “Illinois Trust Act." Sponsored by state Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) the measure seeks to expand on the state’s 2017 sanctuary state law. At its core, it’s aimed at “limiting assistance with immigration enforcement and courthouses at public schools and public colleges; hospitals, emergency or urgent care facilities, nursing homes, and group homes; public libraries and facilities operated by the Office of the Secretary of State.”

According to FAIR, Illinois is now home to roughly 585,000 illegal aliens, ranking the state sixth in the country. When their U.S.-born children are added, researchers note that increases to 787,000.