McHenry Times

A majority of McHenry County’s municipalities did not respond to a request for comment on whether they will accept funding for the resettlement of illegal immigrants. The municipalities were asked about their contact with state officials or General Assembly members regarding such funding, if they anticipate their municipality taking advantage of such funding, and what their community’s stance is on the permanent resettling of migrants.

The municipalities that failed to respond to requests from the McHenry Times include Barrington Hills, Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, McHenry, Woodstock, Cary, Harvard, Marengo, Johnsburg, Lakewood, Wonder Lake, Richmond, Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove, Bull Valley, McCullom Lake, Ringwood, Holiday Hills, Union, Trout Valley, Greenwood, Algonquin, Huntley, Lakemoor, Fox River Grove and Port Barrington.

Their lack of response raises questions about their stance on illegal immigration and the utilization of available resources for resettlement programs.

Among the municipalities that responded was Spring Grove Village. Its President, Mark Eisenberg, reaffirmed the village’s firm stance against accommodating migrants. He stated that they have not been approached for resettlement and have no interest in doing so due to limited resources.

"We are not interested in any migrants in our very small city without any means to support," Eisenberg said to McHenry Times.

In light of an escalating immigration crisis in the region, Spring Grove remains steadfast in its position to not support illegal immigrants in their small community.

The Village of Hebron also responded. Village President Robert Shelton clarified his municipality’s stance on illegal immigrant resettlement, stating they have neither received nor solicited any funding for such purposes. He emphasized that Hebron has not received any funding offers and does not anticipate accepting any if offered, while also noting that the issue has not yet arisen to the point of requiring elected officials’ involvement.

"I do not see us taking any funding if offered," Shelton told McHenry Times.

Currently, Hebron does not have a formal stance on the issue of resettling illegal immigrants.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is seeking applications for $11 million in grants from Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services (SMASS), aimed at aiding illegal immigrants in Illinois. This funding was referred to as "Round II." The distribution of funds will be overseen by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus through a Request for Information process, with eligibility extended to municipal governments willing to receive asylum seekers. Furthermore, lead municipalities can collaborate with other governmental bodies and organizations as subgrantee partners, ensuring efficient and comprehensive support for asylum seekers while adhering to grant guidelines and procedures.

The call for applications followed Governor J.B. Pritzker's announcement about the availability of the funds. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services announced an additional $17 million in funding for municipalities, in response to the influx of over 38,000 new arrivals sent to Illinois from Texas since 2022. The funds aim to bolster capacity in municipalities outside of Chicago, aiding in providing direct services such as temporary shelter, emergency triage, legal assistance, health screenings, and more. The $11 million round of SMASS funds was exclusively available to municipalities outside of Chicago, facilitated by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus through a competitive solicitation process. Additionally, $6 million of the investment will support Illinois Welcoming Centers and Immigrant Family Resources Program providers, emphasizing the state’s commitment to supporting immigrants and fostering partnerships in local communities, according to a press release from IDHS.