GOP’s Erickson argues banning taxpayer funds for migrants is not ‘anti-immigrant’

MCLEAN COUNTY (25News Now) - The author of a resolution that would prevent spending McLean County taxpayers’ money on migrants says his proposal is not anti-immigrant.

Rather, it’s following the rule of law, said County Board Member Chuck Erickson, who’s also running in the March 19 Republican primary for the Illinois House seat in the 88th District.

Erickson’s resolution is on the agenda for Thursday evening’s county board meeting.

His proposal will fail if all 10 Democrats on the board vote no. The 20-member board is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

Since the measure was made public on Monday, the McLean County Democratic Party, the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and the local Not in Our Town organization have all issued statements in opposition.

Democratic County Board member Corey Beirne on his Facebook page had the harshest criticism, calling the measure “disgusting, racist, ignorant, and discriminatory.” Beirne called Erickson the “board’s resident culture warrior and champion of systemic racism.”

“Step up to the bigots in the McLean County Republican party and tell them this won’t fly,” Beirne said.

Board member Lea Cline called the proposal “unnecessary and hateful.”

The resolution says the county “will not accept or provide taxpayer-funded services to migrants sent into McLean County by any other state or municipality.”

“We shouldn’t let people into our country unless we know more about them. Likewise, you would not let someone into your house who you do not know much about,” Erickson told 25News.

Erickson is in the middle of a campaign to win the Republican nomination for the Illinois House seat in the 88th District. Incumbent Republican Dan Caulkins is not running for reelection and he’s endorsing Erickson’s opponent Regan Deering. Both candidates say they are reliable conservatives.

“It’s not my fault this issue came up at the same time as when I decided to run,” said Erickson.

“I believe it to be the right thing to do for the citizens of McLean County,” Erickson also said.