Rep. Mah Denounces Measure Targeting Immigrant Community

CHICAGO, Ill. – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is denouncing a measure filed by a Republican representative earlier this month, which seeks to target and strip much-needed resources from undocumented immigrant children.

“The budget impasse as it stands today is enough hardship for the people living in Illinois,” said Mah. “This measure targets the hard-working immigrant communities in our state and is unfair to those trying to provide for a better future for their families.”

House Bill 404, if passed, would take away the public aid currently given to families that include undocumented immigrants. Mah sees this as a disservice to families that are just trying to make ends meet, reminding proponents of the legislation that their targets are human beings who rely on this assistance, regardless of their citizen status. Some of the sources of the assistance include Temporary Aid for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program, to name a few. These safety net programs are precisely what Mah intends to protect for all residents in her district who need them.

“We need to be focused on growing the economy, not targeting innocent children or hardworking families,” said Mah. “This plan does not move the state in the right direction and only seeks to use a budget-impasse as an excuse to punish immigrant communities.”

Mah is serving her first term in the Illinois General Assembly as State Representative of the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Pilsen, Chinatown, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Brighton Park and Back of the Yards.