Think Illinois spends millions on migrants? Wrong. It spends billions.
Illinois will have spent over $2.5 billion on migrant care by the end of 2025. Costs have shattered projections and left taxpayers poorer.
The Gov. J.B. Pritzker administration’s spending on migrant care has seen massive cost overruns and a troubling lack of transparency, drawing criticism for prioritizing migrants over the needs of taxpayers.
Here’s how Pritzker is spending over $2.5 billion in taxes.
Health care
Health care has been the primary cost. Recent audits have found Illinois has spent over $1.6 billion on migrant health care through July 2024 – far more than originally predicted.
Migrant health benefits are split between two programs. The Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors was created during the pandemic in 2020 and serves those over the age of 65. The Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program was created in 2022 and serves ages 42 to 64.
The audit compared state estimates versus actual expenditures for fiscal years 2021 to 2023. Originally, it was estimated the senior program would cost $224 million. Auditors found actual expenditures were 84% higher than expected at $412.3 million.
The adult program overruns were even more dramatic. The expected cost was originally $126.4 million for the three-year period. Actual expenditures came to $485.3 million, nearly four times higher than expected.
In 2023 alone, total costs outpaced expected spending by over $400 million, enough money to shelter Illinois’ entire homeless population for a year.
The audit also found the state spent an additional $719 million for fiscal year 2024.
The state originally expected to spend $629 million on migrant health care for fiscal year 2025, $440 million of which will come out of state general funds. Considering the state’s track record, it could be much higher.
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. The senior program will continue and is projected to cost $110 million in fiscal year 2026 general funds.
Other spending
Beyond health care, Illinois has allocated $478 million since 2023 for migrant benefits through the Welcoming with Dignity initiative. This money has gone to migrant welcome centers, housing, emergency food, resettlement services and rental assistance.
These overruns come as the state struggles to fund its budget, largely relying on gimmicks and one-time revenue to cover deficits. Amid these fiscal challenges, Pritzker is set to testify before Congress on June 12 regarding state immigration policies. U.S. Rep. James Comer has accused the governor of obstructing federal immigration enforcement and demanded explanations for prioritizing migrant spending over taxpayer concerns.
Illinois needs to get its priorities straight. Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability rather than broken promises, ballooning costs and mismanagement.