Kane County Reporter

Devin Corbett, chairman of the Aurora Township Republicans, has criticized Governor JB Pritzker's administration for its handling of Illinois' Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program. Corbett alleged that the program mismanaged $1.6 billion in taxpayer money. He made these remarks to the Kane County Reporter on March 7.

"Governor JB Pritzker's reckless mismanagement of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program led to $1.6 billion in taxpayer money being funneled to noncitizens over the last four years," said Corbett. "His administration vastly underestimated both enrollment and costs, resulting in massive financial waste and fraudulent claims. Instead of taking responsibility, Pritzker misled the public about the program's true impact while refusing to act sooner. Illinois taxpayers deserve leaders who will put their interests first and stop wasting money on failed programs."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program has cost Illinois $1.6 billion since 2020, exceeding Governor Pritzker's initial estimates. A state audit revealed that Pritzker's administration underestimated both enrollment and costs, with some expenses surpassing projections by as much as 282%. The audit identified errors such as duplicate recipient IDs and undocumented enrollees possessing Social Security numbers. Despite the financial strain, Pritzker has only recently decided to terminate the program by July 1, while Republican lawmakers are calling for an immediate cessation.

Capitol News Illinois reported that Illinois is facing a projected $3.2 billion revenue shortfall for fiscal year 2026 due to the expiration of federal pandemic aid and stagnant tax revenues. Governor Pritzker presented his seventh budget on February 19 amidst economic slowdowns and uncertainties regarding future federal funding. According to Capitol News, Republican legislators have suggested reducing aid for undocumented residents as a cost-cutting measure, claiming expenses reached $558 million during this fiscal year alone. Former President Trump's attempts to reduce federal funding to Illinois have reportedly exacerbated budgetary concerns, particularly after his administration temporarily halted disbursements.

Corbett was first elected as Chairman of the Aurora Township Republican Party in 2024. The organization's website states that he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Aurora Township voters."