Durbin Meets with Welcome to Illinois Coalition

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with the Welcome to Illinois coalition, organized by the Latino Policy Forum to provide a coordinated response to support recently-arrived migrants in the state.

“I deeply appreciate the work done by advocates and community leaders to welcome migrants to our state. Illinoisans take pride in our reputation as a welcoming home for families from around the world, and today’s convening of this coalition helps ensure that resources are well-coordinated to best support migrants once they arrive. It’s important that we continue to embrace the contributions by migrants that make our communities stronger and more vibrant, and I will continue to advocate for additional federal support for our efforts,” said Durbin.

During the meeting, Durbin discussed a broad range of issues and legislation aimed at supporting recently-arrived migrants, including access to legal services, case management, and long-term housing. Additionally, Durbin shared an update on his efforts at the federal level, such as his advocacy for increased funding to bolster important services and expedite asylum and work authorization through the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations cycle.

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