Asylum Seekers Grant Obtained By Joliet Township, Not City Hall

JOLIET, IL — A spokeswoman for Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy said the city did not apply for the grant that involves the awarding of millions of dollars to house asylum seekers that was announced by the governor's office late Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, the mayor's spokesperson, Rosemaria DiBenedetto, told Joliet Patch that as soon as D'Arcy found out about Governor JB Pritzker's multi-million dollar grant for Joliet, D'Arcy immediately began reaching out to City Council members.

DiBenedetto said the city of Joliet government did not apply for the grant to house asylum seekers coming to Illinois from other countries. Rather, the grant went through Joliet Township government and Supervisor Angel Contreras, she pointed out.

"This has nothing to do with the city of Joliet government," DeBenedetto emphasized on Saturday. "If residents have concerns about this issue, they should contact Supervisor Angel Contreras and other Joliet Township officials."

Late Friday, Governor JB Pritzker announced that Joliet will receive $8.6 million to house asylum seekers who are coming to Illinois to start a new life for themselves and their families. The news was broken by journalist Rich Miller, who owns the Springfield-based news outlet Capitol Fax.

“Illinois is a welcoming state, and we have stepped up to aid asylum seekers who have undertaken a dangerous and trying journey to try and build a better life for themselves and their families,” Pritzker said, according to the Capitol Fax story. “Although we will still need significant federal support as this crisis continues, these grants will empower local governments to build out services and supports for new arrivals so we can successfully transition them into our state and give them the opportunity to complete their legal immigration process.”

Joliet City Councilman Joe Clement said he will speak against the measure during this week's City Council meetings.

"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."

Clement said he received about 10 phone calls from concerned residents late Friday night once the news from Pritzker broke.

"This is insane," Clement said. "And it's going to affect our hospitals, schools and public safety. I was elected to represent over 150,000 people, and I'm going to continue to do what's right for the people of Joliet. I was totally taken off guard."

According to the Capitol Fax story, the City of Chicago will receive $30.25 million, City of Joliet, $8.6 million, City of Elgin $1.27 million, Lake County, $1 million, City of Urbana: $250,000, and Village of Oak Park $150,000.

To read Pritzker's entire press release announcing the funds for Joliet, visit his website.

To read the story from Miller, visit the website for Capitol Fax.