An Illinois Republican lawmaker says the financial impact of illegal immigration on state taxpayers is far greater than a recently reported estimate tied to federal immigration enforcement operations.
The Chicago Tribune recently reported a “back-of-the-envelope” estimate placing the cost of Operation Midway Blitz at $59 million and growing through the final months of 2025 in Illinois. That estimate included nearly $34 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and about $6 million for U.S. Border Patrol operations.
State Representative Brad Halbrook said those figures represent only a small portion of the overall cost borne by Illinois taxpayers.
“The cost of illegal immigration to the taxpayers of the state of Illinois over the last three or four years has surpassed hundreds of millions, and it’s in the billions of dollars,” Halbrook told The Center Square.
According to state budget figures, Illinois spent $330 million in fiscal year 2025 on the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, which has since ended. The Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors program, covering non-citizens age 65 and older, is budgeted at $140 million for the current fiscal year. A recent audit found the programs cost taxpayers an estimated $1.6 billion over three years, significantly exceeding original projections.
While the Tribune also highlighted the human impact of immigration enforcement actions, including raids in neighborhoods and business areas, Halbrook said those reports fail to address crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally.
“They’re not talking about that human cost, and that’s real,” Halbrook said. “Those families will never recover.”
Halbrook added that state spending on non-citizen benefits and National Guard deployments is unnecessary and would be greatly reduced without the current population of undocumented immigrants.
The Trump administration later canceled the Guard deployment, which officials initially said was intended to protect federal officers and property amid concerns over violent protests related to immigration enforcement.