Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has signed a new, allegedly “inclusive,” law extending financial aid eligibility — not necessarily to poorer students or families in need, but to illegal immigrants.
The bill makes it so that all residents can receive financial aid regardless of immigration status. Reportedly, this is designed to establish “equitable eligibility for financial aid and benefits” for all students throughout the state. As the legislation itself reads: “a student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for financial aid and benefits.”
State Senator Celina Villanueva (D) co-signed the bill, and she argued it “is about making sure no student is left behind because of where they were born.” Villanueva’s office released a statement that further explained the legislation, claiming it “eliminates the patchwork of confusing and sometimes conflicting requirements that have excluded undocumented, DACAmented, and mixed-status students from critical aid.” According to the senator, “If you live in Illinois and are pursuing higher education, you should have access to the same opportunities as your peers. Illinois invests in all of our students, and we’re committed to helping them succeed.”
Others, however, see it differently. In fact, the backlash against this bill has been fierce. State Rep. Marly Miller (R) slammed the new law as an insult to families and especially other students. She told Fox News that “allowing taxpayer-funded financial aid for illegal aliens is a slap in the face to hardworking Illinois families and students.” Miller added, “Our state is drowning in debt, yet J.B. Pritzker is determined to drain even more taxpayer dollars to reward illegals. It’s absolutely shameful.”
Echoing this, a spokesperson for the Illinois GOP, also in comment to Fox, stressed how, “once again, Governor Pritzker proves that he is prioritizing illegal immigrants at the expense of Illinois families. Illinois taxpayers should not have their hard-earned taxpayer dollars pay for benefits to illegal immigrants who shouldn’t be here in the first place.”
And yet, government officials are not the only ones speaking out against this new law. Parents, too, are voicing concern. Michelle Cunney, an Illinois mother and local Parents’ Rights in Education chapter leader, spoke with Fox. She described the legislation as a “nightmare,” emphasizing that this law opens a floodgate of problems. As she put it, “To be honest, it’s terrifying that not only are we having to pay for this, as you know, taxpaying citizens. … But also, as parents, not knowing how it will really truly end up affecting our children and their education.”
From Cunney’s experience living in the state, she stressed that Pritzker has a tendency to prioritize illegal immigrants over legal residents. With this new law, “we know that the children who are not here legally will get … more of a chance and an opportunity to get scholarships and everything than our children, because to Pritzker, and so many others, we are not important,” she stated. “We are not anything other than money.” According to Cunney, several others feel the same way, noting that “most of the parents are not okay with this.”
In a statement, state Rep. Chris Miller (R) argued that “this move is top of the list for why Pritzker must be put out of office.” He continued, “While you’re figuring out how to pay $500 electric bills, he quickly signed HB 460 into law giving illegals free college!” Miller took note of the same trend many Illinois residents seem to be emphasizing, namely, that “since Pritzker took office, Illinois citizens have been left behind while illegals get all the handouts they need to feel right at home in Illinois. The governor has betrayed every Illinois citizen with his policies that roll out the red carpet for illegal immigrants.”
“Billions of taxpayer funds,” he stressed, “are being wasted on services for individuals who broke federal law and people here in our great state of Illinois have had enough.” There’s been talk of Pritzker running for president in the 2028 election. But according to Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Ill.), “Pritzker’s sanctuary state policies have transformed Illinois into a cesspool of crime and drugs brought by the illegals he is actively resettling.”
She concluded, “Our communities are being overwhelmed, innocent girls are being raped, and Americans are being ruthlessly murdered. These are the tragic consequences of his failed leadership.”
AUTHOR
Sarah Holliday
Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.
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