Glen Ellyn Will Not Seek Grant For Migrant Aid 'At This Time:' Senak

GLEN ELLYN, IL — Glen Ellyn does not plan to request assistance from an $11 million state grant to help municipalities settle asylum seekers, village President Mark Senak said in an open letter Monday.

The update comes after a video circulated on social media in which Senak mentioned the grant and asked for input from a group of attendees at a League of Women's Voters Event.

In the letter, Senak explained that 12 buses of migrants had passed through Glen Ellyn's train station since mid-December, but that no buses had come through since Jan. 11. Senak wrote, "We, as a village, have treated migrants as any other visitors to the village."

He continued, "While the village has been a destination for immigrant families in the past, the village has not actively funded those efforts. Given the short application period and the absence of a detailed plan explaining how the settlement of migrants in the village could be done without negatively impacting our community, particularly our schools, I see no reason to treat the current situation any different than how the village has treated similar situations in the past. "

Related: 'No Issues Or Incidents' With Migrants At Glen Ellyn Station: Senak

Senak went on to praise the Glen Ellyn Police Department for its efforts monitoring migrant dropoffs. He also reiterated that the village will continue to prioritize the well-being safety of its residents as migrants pass through.

"The Village will continue its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants passing through our community in a way that does not jeopardize the health and safety of our residents," Senak wrote.