Dupage Policy Journal

A majority of DuPage County’s municipalities did not respond to a request regarding their stance on accepting funding for the resettlement of undocumented immigrants.

The municipalities that failed to respond to requests from DuPage Policy Journal include Lemont, Bartlett, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Lombard, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Addison, Woodridge, Glendale Heights, West Chicago, Westmont, Lisle, Bloomingdale, Villa Park, Darien, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Warrenville, Winfield, Itasca, Willowbrook, Clarendon Hills, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Roselle, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Wayne, Naperville, St. Charles, Aurora, and Bolingbrook.

The only municipality that responded was Glen Ellyn. Mark Senak, the Village President of Glen Ellyn has scheduled a Special Meeting of the Village Board on Feb. 26 to discuss the community’s stance on permanently resettling undocumented immigrants.

“This funding was intended for municipalities that are providing eligible services to asylum-seekers already living in their communities, or those having prepared plans to provide those services in the near future,” Senak said in an update.

He further emphasized that the decision rests with the Village Board and directed inquiries about individual trustees’ views to them directly. Senak also provided an update on the presence of undocumented immigrants in Glen Ellyn and disclosed that the village will not be submitting a request for state funding aimed at supporting asylum-seekers.

According to a previous report from DuPage Policy Journal, State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) announced a significant funding initiative aimed at supporting municipalities outside of Chicago after an influx of approximately 40,000 new arrivals from Central and South America since August of last year.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has been encouraging suburban communities to accept funds tied to the resettlement of undocumented immigrants in their communities. This caucus includes various bodies such as the City of Chicago; DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference; Lake County Municipal League; McHenry County Council of Governments; Metro West Council of Government; Northwest Municipal Conference; South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association; Southwest Conference of Mayors; West Central Municipal Conference; and Will County Governmental League.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus sought applications for the $11 million in grants for Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services (SMASS), aimed at aiding undocumented immigrants in Illinois. This funding, referred to as "Round II," 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, according to its website.

This funding announcement came after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the availability of these funds. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services unveiled an additional $17 million in funding for municipalities, responding to the influx of over 38,000 new arrivals sent to Illinois from Texas since 2022. The funds aim to enhance 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 Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services funds was exclusively available to municipalities outside of Chicago, facilitated by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) 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.