Chicago City Council March 24, 2021
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR HEARINGS ON LOCAL STIMULUS SUPPORT FOR
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
WHEREAS, it has been over a year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic (the "Pandemic"); and,
WHEREAS, a large number of community members throughout the City of Chicago (the "City") impacted by the Pandemic have received federal government aid, there is an unreasonable number ofthe City's community members who have not; and,
WHEREAS, the Pandemic further highlighted that service industry, frontline, and essential workers are crucial the City's survival; and,
WHEREAS, undocumented immigrants are overrepresented in the service industry and greatly represented amongst frontline and essential workers; and,
WHEREAS, undocumented immigrants are amongst the most adversely affected by the Pandemic and its economic consequences; and,
WHEREAS, the American Rescue Plan expanded the most recent federal stimulus to include the children or spouse of undocumented immigrants; and,
WHEREAS, there continues to remain approximately 9.3 million undocumented immigrant workers and taxpayers.who have not received a federal stimulus check for a third time since the Pandemic; and,
WHEREAS, in 2018, undocumented immigrants in Illinois paid an estimated $945.5 million in federal taxes and $708.9 million in state and local taxes; and,
WHEREAS, New York and California have included undocumented immigrant workers and taxpayers within their local stimulus support; and, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Members of the City Council ofthe City of Chicago, call to hold open hearings led by the Economic, Capital, and Technology Development Committee to discuss local government support for undocumented immigrant workers and taxpayers excluded from the recent federal stimulus payments.
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36,h Ward