Will County Gazette

Several municipalities across Will County have declined to disclose their policies regarding the illegal immigrant crisis, in response to an inquiry by the Will County Gazette. The non-responsive municipalities include Aurora, Braidwood, Crest Hill, Joliet, Lockport, Naperville, Wilmington, Beecher, Bolingbrook, Braceville, Channahon, Coal City, Crete, Diamond, Elwood, Godley, Homer Glen, Lemont, Manhattan, Minooka, Mokena, Monee, Orland Park, Park Forest and others.

However three communities did respond to questions about how they intend to handle the situation.

Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle criticized open border policies for leading to an influx of undocumented immigrants in Illinois and expressed concern about increased crime and inadequate screening processes. 

Flanders House in Plainfield (1840) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29480572

"It is completely inappropriate that funding and services for our residents is being diverted from its intended purpose. We have made no plans to accept migrants as requested by Chicago Mayor Johnson," Ogle said to the Will County Gazette.

Ogle further emphasized Frankfort’s commitment to prioritizing funding and services for its residents. He stated that the community has no plans to accept migrants as requested by Chicago but instead focuses on legal counsel and coordination with the Will County EMA.

New Lenox Mayor Timothy Baldermann rejected the acceptance of money or the establishment of migrant shelters in his community. He cited concerns over national security and limitations in resources. 

"We will not accept money or set up migrant shelters in our community," Baldermann said to DuPage Policy Journal. "I issued an executive order followed by an ordinance that passed unanimously by our board prohibiting unscheduled bus drop-offs."

Baldermann highlighted the need to protect residents and pointed out risks associated with accepting unvetted individuals amid a humanitarian crisis turned national security concern.

Plainfield Village President John F. Argoudelis confirmed Plainfield’s refusal to accept migrants due to lacking facilities and legal processing capabilities. He emphasized plans to ensure buses and migrants are safely directed to Chicago for proper housing and processing. 

"We will not accept migrants in Plainfield," Argoudelis said to the Will County Gazette.

Argoudelis explained that the village doesn’t have facilities to house them, nor are they in a position to process them but intends to safely direct the people to facilities in Chicago.

The refusal by most of Will County’s communities to discuss policy comes as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson requested help from suburban mayors with the city’s illegal immigrant crisis. 

"He’s asking us all for support, calling out the federal government," Burr Ridge’s Gary Grasso said to NBC Chicago.

Grasso added that Johnson specifically asked for support for needs in increased funding, shelter, services to the migrants, and Johnson’s demand from Washington.

Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Senak recently revealed during the League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn 2024 State of the Village Annual Meeting on Jan. 26 that his community was offered an $11 million state grant to facilitate the permanent resettlement of illegal immigrants. Senak informed the audience that the state had offered this substantial grant for assisting with the settlement of migrants in Glen Ellyn. The issue was brought to light by State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn), who notified the village about the availability of funds for this purpose, as previously reported by DuPage Policy Journal.