Hernandez Condemns Gov. Rauner for Defunding Immigrant Services

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, member of the Latino Caucus, issued the following statement after Gov. Bruce Rauner unilaterally zeroed out appropriated funding for Welcoming Centers and cut funding for Immigrant Integration Services by roughly half-a-million dollars:

“Once again, Gov. Bruce Rauner has decided to uphold President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. By unilaterally gutting funding for these vital public investments, the governor is snatching the American dream out of the hands of parents who moved here so their families could have a better life.

“Just a little over a month ago, in the Little Village, the governor stood in a room full of community members and advocates and told them that he has been on the side of immigrants his entire life. Yet, we still haven’t seen Gov. Rauner take a clear stance in opposition to Donald Trump ending the DACA program, even though 42,000 young people in Illinois will be under immediate risk if Congress fails to act. And now, he has gutted funding for vital services that help new immigrants become self-reliant, enabling them to earn more and contribute to our state’s economy.

“The Illinois TRUST Act was just the beginning and there’s more work to be done. If the governor is serious about his commitment to supporting immigrant communities, then he should reinstate funding for these vital services, and he should denounce Donald Trump for putting the livelihood of 42,000 young people at risk. Actions speak louder than words.”