Illinois lawmakers offer opposing views on the migrant crisis

Posted on January 17, 2024
Lawmakers held a press conference Wednesday morning to express their views. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers from opposing parties have opposing views of how to ease the migrant crisis. 

The Speaker of the House has formed a “New Arrivals Working Group.” And before you scoff at the idea of a working group or a task force …

“The working groups that have been created by the speaker,” said the new group’s chair, State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), “have been a very effective means of driving a consensus within our caucus to address hard things.”

Around the same time as the announcement of the working group, the all-Republican Illinois Freedom Caucus held a news conference to announce, among other things, that the solutions are not that complicated.

“Secure the border, stop the invasion, suspend our sanctuary policies, and then start cleaning up the wreckage,” said State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville).

The Freedom Caucus criticized House Democrats for not making their working group a bipartisan one.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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