Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzer announced that he fully supports allowing refugees to resettle in Illinois, and he intends to sign a letter allowing refugee resettlement in Illinois. An executive order executed by the Trump administration requires that a written letter of consent is now required from state and local officials by December 25 under an executive order that President Donald Trump issued earlier this year.
Governor JB Pritzker wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on December 17 to welcome refugees to Illinois:
“Since 1975, the State of Illinois has welcomed and resettled more than 130,000 refugees from more than 86 countries…As the Governor of Illinois, I proudly consent to the continuation of refugee admission to our state and extend a warm welcome to refugees who have come and will be coming to Illinois”
The New American Economy’s report From Struggle to Resilience, the Economic Impact of Refugees in America and the National Bureau of Economic Research’s report The Economic and Social Outcomes of Refugees in the U.S. states that:
• Refugees pay $21,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits on average in their first 20 years in the U.S.
• Refugees become citizens at a higher rate than non-refugee immigrants. In 2015, 84% of eligible refugees were naturalized citizens as compared to 51% of other immigrants.
• Refugee rates of entrepreneurship (15%) exceed other immigrants (11.5%) as well as U.S. born (9%)
• Refugee children do as well as U.S.-born children on measures of education attainment.
• Over 77% of refugees are of working age as compared to 49.7% of the U.S.-born population, helping to meet U.S. labor force needs.
Mario Godoy and the immigration attorneys at Godoy Law Office in Chicago fight for the rights of immigrants in Illinois and help immigrants navigate the complex and numerous immigration policies, procedures, and regulations. If you need help with an immigration issue, please contact our office at 855-554-6369.
