Amid Stricter Federal Rules, $1.13 Million Awarded To Help Asylum-Seekers In Lake County

WAUKEGAN, IL — As the federal government tightens asylum rules amid growing national tension over immigration, the Lake County Board this week unanimously voted to accept an expanded state grant to assist asylum-seekers.

Lake County is the only county in Illinois to receive funding through the Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services, or SMASS, program, which is now in its second year.

The SMASS program focuses on funding services such as shelter and transitional housing support, food assistance, wraparound services, legal help and health and wellness care.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus administers the program, distributing state money on behalf of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

This year, Lake County officials secured a grant worth more than $1.13 million, an increase of about 9 percent from what they received last year.

Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, which serves immigrant families, will receive $924,298 of that money, while North Suburban Legal Aid will get $184,404 to provide legal assistance to asylum-seekers.

Lake County will retain $21,536 to cover administrative costs for managing the program.

The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic was founded in 2015 by Nancy Rotering, who is also a member of executive board the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the SMASS program was created in response to the policy of the Texas state government to provide people who show up at the southern border with free transportation to sanctuary cities

"As we continue to call for further federal support, and as Illinois takes a stand against the callous ways Texas Gov. Abbott is using human beings as political pawns, these grants will lend support where it is needed throughout the state," Pritzker said, announcing the funding earlier this year.

More than 49,000 asylum-seekers have arrived in Chicago on buses and planes since September 2022, not including those arriving independently or via Greyhound, according to city officials

In addition to the Lake County grant, several other municipalities and organizations across Illinois were awarded funding for the 2025 fiscal year through the SMASS program. Champaign received nearly $710,000, Oak Park was awarded about $300,000 and Ford Heights secured almost $1.24 million.

As for non-governmental groups, BEDS Plus Inc. received $878,000, Centro de Informacíon was granted nearly $1.7 million, The Immigration Project was awarded more than $702,000, Respond Now received more than $706,000, Rincon Family Services secured over $1.4 million, Western Illinois Dreamers was granted nearly $375,000, and World Relief Quad Cities received more than $367,000 to support services for asylum-seekers and individuals experiencing homelessness.

This local initiative comes during an election season in which President Joe Biden and candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris are facing increasing pressure over their administration's handling of immigration and border security.

Last month, Biden administration officials announced tougher asylum restrictions, requiring that the daily number of border crossings remain below 1,500 for nearly a month before easing restrictions on asylum applications.

That move, which builds on earlier policies introduced in June, has drawn sharp criticism from immigration advocates, who argue that it effectively denies asylum to those fleeing persecution.