Kane County Reporter

Village of Gilberts Village President, Guy Zambetti, has confirmed that the village has not taken any measures to prevent the drop-offs of illegal immigrants in the community. Speaking to Kane County Reporter, Zambetti stated that this issue has not yet arisen in the Village of Gilberts.

“Staff and elected officials continue to observe Mayor Johnson’s and Governor Pritzker’s statements and actions relative to migrant buses coming to the Chicago Area,” Zambetti said. “To date, no migrant buses have requested to drop migrants in Gilberts. The Kane County Office of Emergency Services (OEM) has offered to assist Kane County Communities who receive migrant buses by escorting buses to the nearest Metra stop for transportation to Chicago.”

“At this time, the Village of Gilberts Board has taken no action and has no action pending to regulate or prohibit Migrant buses from coming to our community or to prohibit local hotels from housing Migrants.”

Zambetti's comments were made in response to a request for assistance from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson concerning the city’s illegal immigrant crisis.  

"He’s asking us all for support, calling out the federal government," Grasso told NBC Chicago.

He said Johnson specifically asked for increased funding support for shelter services for migrants and demanded assistance from Washington.

Since late December, when the City of Chicago began implementing fines and threatening non-compliant buses with impoundment, illegal immigrants have been dropped off further afield. These penalties specifically target buses dropping off illegal immigrants within city limits without prior notice. As a result, suburban communities with Metra access have experienced increased drop-offs according to Patch.

During a Hinsdale Village Board meeting last month where such drop-offs were prohibited, officials reported being notified by a bus driver that these occurrences were expected to continue through March. The DuPage Policy Journal reported that the frequency of daily drop-offs throughout the state has varied, often exceeding 10 instances and at times approaching 800 people per day.

Concerns have arisen in light of reports that over 34,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in Illinois since mid-2022, adding urgency to calls for stronger border control measures. Last fall, Illinois allocated $42.5 million in grant monies for municipalities to house illegal immigrants. Lake County, Elgin, Oak Park, Urbana and Chicago received grant funds from the state to assist with housing and other needs. Overall, the state has allocated $500 million for the care of illegal immigrants according to Capitol News Illinois.