Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) | Facebook/Governor JB Pritzker
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) | Facebook/Governor JB Pritzker
A group gathered near City Hall recently to protest against Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's June 24 decision to pause a healthcare assistance program for undocumented immigrants.
As of July 1, the healthcare program won't treat undocumented low-income residents between the ages of 42 and 64. The state is also capping the number of individuals deemed eligible for the program. In addition, everyone currently enrolled will have to pay co-pays for hospital visits, ABC7 Chicago reported.
"We are continuing that investment with more than $500 million going towards a program that will continue providing healthcare for more than 63,000 people, and we are doing so in a manner that allows us to maintain the state's financial stability," a statement from Pritzker's office said.
The governor's office said the program will be fully reinstituted when more money is appropriated for it.
As the protest rally was being held Pritzker, was in Orlando, Fla., receiving an honor from the National Immigrant's List for his work on immigrant rights, ABC7 said.
Democratic Latino lawmakers and immigration groups have been among those heaving the most criticism at Pritzker. Democratic State Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) said, "I'm not sure why he did this. The Latino Caucus as a whole has not sat down to meet the governor's office."
Villa joined several other elected officials and a growing number of immigrants at the downtown rally, calling on Pritzker to reverse course on his pause.
"He doesn't work, so he will not be able to afford it," Access Living worker Michelle Garcia said of Miguel Camacho, a 47-year-old paraplegic immigrant who will be heavily affected by the sudden changes. "Same thing for hospitalization. He will not be able to afford $250."
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