A shocking report from a government watchdog think tank revealed that the state of Illinois is projected to spend $2.5 billion in taxpayer dollars on illegal immigrants by the end of 2025, with the organization claiming that the majority of these funds have been allocated to healthcare, along with “migrant welcome centers” and resettlement services.
For context, a report released by the Illinois Public Policy Institute, a government watchdog organization, on June 9, 2025, showed how the state’s woke leader, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and his administration are spending taxpayer dollars on services like migrant health care and welcome centers for illegal immigrants, describing the actual spending as “vastly” beyond the budget.
The report, which was authored by Illinois Public Policy Institute staffer Ravi Mishra, said that the majority of taxpayer dollars allocated to immigration-related government services fell into the category of healthcare. Mishra wrote, “Recent audits have found Illinois has spent over $1.6 billion on migrant health care through July 2024 – far more than originally predicted.”
Continuing, the report revealed that Illinois had originally projected spending $629 million on migrant healthcare in the 2025 fiscal year. However, Mishra stated that based on the data, the total “could be much higher.” Mishra added, “Budgetary pressures have forced Pritzker to end the adult migrant program on July 1, 2025, after it cost taxpayers well over $1 billion for the past four years.”
Next, the report zeroed in on taxpayer dollars that have been funneled into immigration-related causes that go beyond healthcare. Mishra explained that the state has “allocated $478 million since 2023 for migrant benefits through the Welcoming with Dignity initiative.” According to Mishra, this initiative has paid for “migrant welcome centers, housing, emergency food, resettlement services, and rental assistance.”
Furthermore, the Illinois Public Policy Institute released its report just days before Gov. Pritzker testified before Congress regarding his state’s sanctuary laws. During his opening remarks at the June 12, 2025, hearing, the governor argued that states like his “have had to shoulder the consequences of a broken immigration system.” He added, “I’m proud of how we’ve responded…safe and compassionate immigration policies, I believe, are vital.”
In addition, during the hearing, the governor criticized the Trump Administration for the forceful removal of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) from a news conference in Los Angeles, saying, “I cannot believe the disrespect that was shown to a United States senator who was thrown down, handcuffed and not allowed to ask a question to Noem…that seems completely irrational.”
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Moreover, Gov. Pritzker stated that Illinois residents “take seriously their responsibility in upholding the most fundamental values of our nation,” going on to list these values as “kindness, empathy, hard work, and fair play.” He added, “Our people embody the American ideal of old that where your life begins matters than the dreams you can realize here for yourself and your family.”
Watch Gov. Pritzker’s opening statement at the congressional hearing:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video