CHICAGO, Ill. — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is opening up more state resources and the Illinois National Guard to assist with an influx of migrants, bussed in from the state of Texas.
It’s part of a state disaster declaration announced by the Governor and other state leaders on Wednesday.
The migrants have been arriving in Chicago, unscheduled and uncoordinated, at the behest of Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who began sending the bus loads of immigrants to large cities in northern states to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis on the U.S. southern border.
“While other states may be treating these vulnerable families as pawns, here in Illinois we are treating them as people,” said Pritzker in Wednesday’s announcement.
According to a news release, today’s proclamation enables the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and other state agencies, in close coordination with the City of Chicago, Cook County, and other local governments, to ensure the individuals and families “receive the assistance they need”.
Also in making today’s announcement, Governor Pritzker said, “when a person comes urgently seeking help, here in Illinois we offer them a helping hand. It’s who we are and it’s the right thing to do.”
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