Will County Gazette

Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy is asking Joliet Supervisor Angel Contreras to withdraw the application for a recently granted award to go towards caring for the state’s increasing illegal immigrant community.

“I want to take a moment to clarify the facts regarding the recent news about a grant for Municipalities Serving Asylum Seekers,” D’Arcy said at Joliet’s Pre-Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 2.

“The people sitting on this dais were placed here by the people of Joliet with a duty and obligation to preserve and protect their investment in their property and preserve their quality of life.”

“That said, the decision-makers in the city did not have knowledge of a grant request made by Joliet Township and with community partners and organizations.”

“The City of Joliet Mayor’s Office and Joliet Fire Department did not sign or approve any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Township or with other community partners and other organizations on the grant that was submitted.”

“If the township accepts this grant and individuals arrive in our city, it will be a tremendous strain and overtaxing our existing infrastructure impacting our Joliet School System, social services, public and private health resources, and public safety.”

“I want to ensure the residents understand the City of Joliet Mayor’s Office and the Joliet Fire Department did not approve, agree to, or sign off on this grant application.”

“I have been in discussions with State Representatives Larry Walsh Jr., and Natalie Manley, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, and County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant about this grant.”

“None of them were aware of this application until the release that went out late last Friday afternoon.”

“I have asked Joliet Supervisor Angel Contreras to withdraw the grant application.”

D’Arcy’s comments come after it was announced that Joliet Township was awarded $8.6 million in grant monies from the state to harbor illegal immigrants in Joliet.

Statewide $41.5 million was allocated in awards to local governments in the Chicago region to support illegal immigrants, providing funds for shelter, food, legal assistance, and healthcare.

This initiative, funded by the Illinois General Assembly and the General Revenue Fund, is being administered in collaboration with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

Roughly 15,000 illegal immigrants have been bussed to the state from Texas since August 2022, according to the governor’s office.

Joliet Township Supervisor Angel Contreras said he would respond to constituent queries at the Joliet City Council meeting to be held Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.

Contreras released a letter noting the grant application.

“Joliet Township applied for a grant administered by the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus, The intent was to reduce the (economic constraints) experienced by health and social service providers in the region due to the influx of asylum seekers that have arrived over the last year,” he said in the letter.

“We know that the Spanish Community Center alone has already provided casework for more than 2,200 people seeking services since last August.”

“The Township, in partnership, submitted a 40-page, detailed grant, and implementation plan for $12.1 million and we were awarded a total of $8.6 million. We are in the process of providing grant revision to meet the awarded amount.”

“The Township Government office is in the process of communicating with regional social and health service providers who need fiscal support to serve the current number of individuals and families needing assistance.”

Joliet City Councilman Joe Clement spoke out against the drive to house possibly thousands of illegal immigrants in Joliet.

“I follow what’s going on all over the country and I knew it was a matter of time before we would have to address this,” Clement, the at-large Council representative, told Joliet Patch on Saturday.

“But I was completely taken off guard that the Joliet area was participating. This is the first I’m hearing about it.