Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed House Bill 460 into law, expanding access to taxpayer-funded scholarships, grants, and stipends to include illegal immigrants, who are ineligible for federal aid.
Senate Republicans argue the measure diverts limited financial resources away from Illinois families and redirects them to individuals who are not in the country legally. They contend the law places undocumented immigrants on the same footing as citizens who live and work according to the law, even as many Illinois students struggle to keep up with the rising cost of higher education.
With Illinois families already burdened by some of the highest taxes in the nation, they will now be forced to subsidize college aid for individuals who are not citizens.
State Senator Li Arellano Jr voted against the legislation earlier this year, emphasizing that federal law withholds student aid from non-citizens, and that HB 460 sidesteps those protections by using state dollars instead.
The law also creates a carve-out for individuals who refuse to register for Selective Service, including transgender individuals. This provision weakens compliance with federal law, undermines fairness, and raises questions about national defense obligations. As a combat Veteran, Senator Arellano spoke on the floor against this aspect of the new law.
Senator Arellano says that at a time when Illinois families are under financial strain, HB 460 prioritizes benefits for illegal immigrants and those who avoid Selective Service over the very citizens the state is supposed to serve.