Southern Illinois News

Blaine Wilhour, a House Representative from Illinois, has said that undocumented immigrants should not receive taxpayer-funded benefits while citizens face challenges under Governor J.B. Pritzker's policies. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"They are ILLEGALLY here—WGN News fix your headline," said Blaine Jacob Wilhour, State Representative from Illinois. "No one here illegally should be sucking up taxpayer $—especially when our own citizens are struggling under Gov. JB Pritzker oppressive policies."

Illinois expanded Medicaid-like coverage to undocumented adults through the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program, which experienced significant cost increases following its 2020 launch. According to the Wall Street Journal, the program's expenses surged from an initial estimate of $112 million to nearly $800 million annually. In response to state budget pressures, Governor Pritzker proposed ending coverage for adults under 65 by July 2025. This proposal has ignited a debate over healthcare access and fiscal sustainability.

The HBIA program in Illinois enrolled nearly 36,912 undocumented adults aged 42–54 by mid-2023, with costs escalating to $262.2 million—almost triple the projected budget. A performance audit by the Illinois Auditor General in 2025 revealed that total spending on immigrant healthcare programs from 2021–2023 reached $898 million. These figures highlight the financial pressures prompting legislative review of the program.

As of 2025, five states and Washington D.C. had implemented health coverage initiatives for undocumented immigrants, each differing in eligibility and benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, these programs aim to reduce emergency care costs and expand access, with Illinois’s HBIA ranking among the most comprehensive in terms of scale and spending. Other states like California and Minnesota are also reevaluating program sustainability.

Wilhour is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 110th District, first elected in 2018. According to the Illinois General Assembly, he is a military veteran and small business owner who previously served on the Fayette County Board. His legislative priorities include government transparency, fiscal restraint, and opposing state-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants, reflecting his stance during recent budget debates.