Will County Gazette

Patrick Sheehan, State Representative of Illinois, expressed concerns about extending financial aid to undocumented immigrants, stating that it diverts scarce resources away from struggling law-abiding families. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Governor Pritzker has signed a new law that opens the door for undocumented immigrants to receive the same financial benefits as Illinois citizens and legal residents," said T Sheehan, State Representative from Illinois. "Let's be clear: every student deserves a chance to succeed, but that opportunity should not come at the expense of law-abiding families. Illinois is facing a fiscal crisis. Our debt is ballooning, our families are being asked to do more with less, and now Governor Pritzker wants to stretch our limited resources even thinner to fund benefits for those who are not here legally. We should be investing in our citizens."

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation in August 2025 extending state financial aid eligibility to all Illinois residents, including undocumented immigrants, those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and students previously barred for not registering for selective service. According to the New York Post, this law builds on the 2020 RISE Act, which created an alternative application for undocumented students and aims to ensure that no resident student is excluded from aid opportunities.

The American Immigration Council reported that about 408,000 undocumented students were enrolled in U.S. colleges in 2021, representing nearly 2% of the national student body. While Illinois-specific figures are not yet published since the law’s passage, this data illustrates the potential impact on access to financial aid for thousands of undocumented students statewide.

The Associated Press noted that Illinois's 2024 budget included a 2% increase in higher education spending, adding about $31 million for college aid and $10 million for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants. Although detailed allocations following the 2025 law are pending, this expansion reflects a broader trend of the state boosting student support resources.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, Sheehan is a Republican from Lockport who was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives in April 2024 to represent the 37th District. A longtime Plainfield police officer, he previously served as a Lockport alderman and park commissioner and remains active in local youth sports leadership.