Springfield, Ill. — Recognizing the countless
contributions refugees make in the state of Illinois and across our nation,
Governor JB Pritzker wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to
welcome refugees to Illinois.
“As the Governor of Illinois, I proudly consent to the continuation of refugee
admission to our state and extend a warm welcome to refugees who have come and
will be coming to Illinois,” writes Gov. Pritzker in the
Dec. 17 letter.
The Governor’s letter follows an executive order from President Trump aimed at
turning refugees away. The Dec. 17 letter reads as follows and a copy is
attached:
Honorable Secretary Pompeo,
Since 1975, the State of Illinois has welcomed
and resettled more than 130,000 refugees from more than 86 countries. In recent
years, 1,000 to 3,000 refugees, those seeking asylum, and victims of human
trafficking arrived in Illinois annually. Refugees have successfully rebuilt
their lives and made positive social and economic contributions to Illinois.
They have helped revitalize neighborhoods and added to the cultural vitality of
our state and communities.
As the Governor of Illinois and the
great-grandson of refugees, I am committed to ensuring that Illinois is a
welcoming state, especially for refugees and those seeking asylum. As survivors
of persecution, refugees embody the importance of human rights, democracy, and
freedom. Refugees’ resilience in the face of hardship inspires courage, hope,
and perseverance. And refugees’ countless contributions undoubtedly make our
states and nation stronger.
Importantly, refugees admitted through the
United States must go through extensive security screening prior to their arrival.
This process ensures that their claims are valid and that they are not a
security risk to the United States. The security vetting can last more than two
years and includes five background checks, four biometric security checks, and
multiple interviews with United States officials. Once admitted to the United
States, refugees are required to become self-sufficient and integrated into
their new communities as soon as possible.
The New American Economy’s report From
Struggle to Resilience, the Economic Impact of Refugees in America and the
National Bureau of Economic Research’s report The
Economic and Social Outcomes of Refugees in the U.S. have documented that:
• Refugees pay $21,000 more in taxes than
they receive in benefits on average in their first 20 years in the U.S.
• Refugee rates of entrepreneurship (15%)
exceed other immigrants (11.5%) as well as U.S. born (9%).
• Refugees become citizens at a higher
rate than non-refugee immigrants. In 2015, 84% of eligible refugees were
naturalized citizens as compared to 51% of other immigrants.
• Refugee children do as well as U.S.-born
children on measures of education attainment.
• Over 77% of refugees are of working age
as compared to 49.7% of the U.S.-born population, helping to meet U.S. labor
force needs.
Illinois communities have clearly benefited
from having refugees in our midst. We coordinate with the U.S. State Department
and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, as well as the non-profit sector, to
make sure that local communities are consulted and engaged in an on-going,
positive effort to welcome refugees and ensure that refugees can realize their
full potential in our country.
With a global humanitarian crisis of more than
70 million forcibly displaced individuals, including 25 million who are
refugees seeking asylum, the United States should continue to provide
leadership, in partnership with other countries, to offer resettlement for
refugees. Our nation has the capacity to admit significantly more than the
18,000-person limit set by the presidential determination for FY20. I believe
it is in our national interest and consistent with our national values to do
so.
As the Governor of Illinois, I proudly consent
to the continuation of refugee admission to our state and extend a warm welcome
to refugees who have come and will be coming to Illinois.
Sincerely,
JB Pritzker
Governor
