Will County Gazette

Illinois 11th Congressional District candidate Catalina Lauf is calling out President Joe Biden for the border crisis. 

Lauf’s comments come as a busload of 60 illegal immigrants has arrived in Chicago from Texas. 

“As the daughter of an immigrant from Latin America, my family knows the value of a safe and secure border and the need for legal immigration," Lauf said in a statement. "The Biden Administration’s failed open border policies leave border communities in states like Texas overwhelmed. It is ridiculous that we Illinoisians are forced to foot the bill – especially during turbulent economic times. Not to mention, Biden’s gross inaction at our border puts all our communities and districts at risk, Democrat Representatives in Congress sit in silence. It’s time to put an end to the failed extremist policies of the far-left and start kicking out career politicians who do nothing to protect the people they are elected to represent. Hardworking Americans want members of Congress who will work to solve the border crisis and keep our communities safe. I am prepared to go to Congress to tackle these issues head on.”

According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the first busload of illegal immigrants captured in Texas has arrived in Chicago, Chicago City Wire reported. Abbott has begun transporting illegal aliens to sanctuary cities like Chicago, busload after busload. According to him, Chicago is the ideal place for people violating the law to enter the country since it is a sanctuary city and won't treat illegal immigrants differently based on their status. Abbott emphasized that the campaign was a response to President Joe Biden's position on "open borders."

Abbott noted in a press release he would be sending illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities where they do not face penalties for living without documentation. 

"President Biden's inaction at our southern border continues putting the lives of Texans- and Americans-at risk and is overwhelming our communities," Abbott said in a press release. “To continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns, Chicago will join fellow sanctuary cities Washington, D.C. and New York City as an additional drop-off location. Mayor Lightfoot loves to tout the responsibility of her city to welcome all regardless of legal status, and I look forward to seeing this responsibility in action as these migrants receive resources from a sanctuary city with the capacity to serve them.”

In a six-way GOP primary in June, Lauf easily prevailed. Bill Foster, a Democrat who has held office since 2013, is her opponent. Lauf served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Commerce under the administration of former President Donald Trump, Will County Gazette reported.

Republicans are expected to win the district in 2022, according to Lauf. The contest has been targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee as a potential flip. The cities of Aurora, Naperville, Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, New Lenox, and Joliet are all included in the new 11th Congressional District. Cook, Will, and portions of DuPage counties are included.