McHenry Times

Spring Grove has adopted a definitive position against accommodating migrants amidst an escalating immigration crisis in the region. Village President Mark Eisenberg underscored the village's stance, stating that they had not been approached to resettle undocumented immigrants.

“No we have not been contacted and we are not interested in any migrants in our very small city without any means to support,” Eisenberg told McHenry Times.

Eisenberg's remarks come after Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Senak recently disclosed that his community was offered an $11 million state grant to aid in the permanent resettlement of undocumented immigrants. This revelation came during the League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn 2024 State of the Village Annual Meeting on Jan. 26.

"So you understand what I believe that $11 million is for us to have migrants come to Glen Ellyn and locate here and settle here and remain here, and what that would entail to accomplish that," Senak said.

According to DuPage Policy Journal, Senak informed attendees that State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) had notified the village about these funds' availability.

The question of where to accommodate the influx of undocumented immigrants into the area has prompted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to seek assistance from suburban areas with the city’s immigration crisis.

"He’s asking us all for support, calling out the federal government," Burr Ridge’s Mayor Gary Grasso told NBC Chicago.

Grasso also mentioned Johnson specifically requested support for increased funding, shelter, and services for migrants, along with his plea for assistance from the federal government.

This request originates from a surge in drop-offs of undocumented immigrants in the Chicagoland area, which began in December 2023. Concerns have heightened due to reports that over 34,000 undocumented immigrants have arrived in Illinois since mid-2022. This urgency has amplified calls for more robust border control measures. Last fall, Illinois allocated $42.5 million in grant funds to municipalities for housing and supporting undocumented immigrants. Lake County, Elgin, Oak Park, Urbana, and Chicago were among the recipients. In total, the state has set aside $500 million for the care of undocumented immigrants, according to Capitol News Illinois.

At a recent Hinsdale Village Board meeting, where drop-offs were prohibited, officials received information from a bus driver that these incidents are likely to continue until March. The daily frequency of drop-offs across the state has varied, sometimes exceeding 10 instances. Moreover, the number of individuals being dropped off occasionally reaches up to 800 people per day, DuPage Policy Journal reports.