SE Illinois News

State Representative Patrick Windhorst has expressed concern over the cost overruns associated with Illinois' Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (HBIS) and Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) programs. According to an Auditor General’s report released last week, these programs have incurred significant financial burdens on Illinois taxpayers.

Windhorst highlighted that the total expenditure for these health care programs since their inception was just over $1.6 billion from fiscal years 2021 to 2024. He noted that the estimated cost for fiscal year 2025 is $629 million, which was not included in the audit, bringing the projected total cost to $2.2 billion.

He stated, “While I am encouraged that Governor Pritzker has proposed ending the HBIA program for immigrant adults aged 42 to 64, it is clear that the state of Illinois cannot afford to provide these benefits. HBIA and HBIS should both be eliminated immediately.”

Windhorst is co-sponsoring legislation aimed at addressing these issues. He supports HB 1317, which seeks to end Illinois’ TRUST Act responsible for Sanctuary State policies limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials. Additionally, he backs HB 1456, which proposes ending taxpayer-funded health benefits for undocumented immigrants.

“We live in a state where Sanctuary State policies have been a magnet for undocumented immigrants to come here in large numbers, and by doubling down on those policies, Democrats have caused our taxpayers to suffer massive costs,” Windhorst remarked. “The time is now to end Sanctuary State policies, repeal the TRUST Act, and restore financial sanity in our state budget. Our citizens cannot afford to subsidize these failed and costly policies any longer.”