Kane County Reporter

In St. Charles, Illinois, State Representative Dan Ugaste expressed his support following the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules' decision to dismantle the HBIA program. The action taken by JCAR will end taxpayer-funded benefits for non-citizen adults aged 42-64 in Illinois starting July 1.

"Today, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) moved to dismantle the rules that run the HBIA program effective July 1, effectively ending taxpayer-funded benefits for non-citizen adults ages 42-64 in Illinois," Ugaste stated. He noted that since 2022, over $3 billion has been spent by Illinois on healthcare and Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrants.

Ugaste criticized the state's sanctuary policies, attributing them to increased tax burdens and negative impacts on programs for vulnerable citizens. "The Democrats’ focus on being a Sanctuary State has severely impacted our tax burden and negatively affected programs for our most vulnerable citizens," he remarked. Ugaste also highlighted his opposition to funding such programs from their inception, stating they contributed to economic decline and increased taxes.

"I applaud today’s decision, but I will not forget the billions of dollars spent on these programs, which was not helpful to our State," Ugaste concluded.

Representative Dan Ugaste represents Illinois House District 65. Further information can be obtained by contacting his office or visiting his website.