Carbondale Reporter

State Representative Paul Jacobs commented on the actions of California government officials toward immigrants in an October 24 Facebook post, stating, "Illinois House Republicans are working hard to ensure that Illinois prioritizes the needs of its citizens."

"Illinois House Republicans are working hard to ensure that Illinois prioritizes the needs of its citizens," said Jacobs, according to Facebook.

In his Facebook post, Jacobs shared a link to a Republican Caucus Blog post focused on a proposal from California Democrats to give home loans to immigrants. The blog questioned if that is the path Illinois will take. The blog post referred to a proposed bill in California that would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for state-backed home loans up to $150,000. According to the caucus, Illinois has been a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants for a long time, strengthened by the 2017 "Illinois TRUST Act," which prevents state and local law enforcement from collaborating with federal law enforcement regarding an individual’s immigration status without a federal criminal warrant.

Screenshot of State Rep. Paul Jacobs' Oct. 24 Facebook post. | State Representative Paul Jacobs' Facebook page

Illinois has expanded healthcare coverage for migrants, but Republicans have pushed back. The blog post also refers to House Resolution 220, filed by Rep. Ryan Spain in 2023, which calls for a "moratorium on the enrollment of new beneficiaries for Medicaid services under the program for undocumented immigrants, and a moratorium on the expansion of Medicaid service and coverage for any new population of undocumented immigrants not already covered." If this resolution passes, the Auditor General will be asked to audit the Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ administration of Medicaid services for undocumented immigrants. The last action on this bill was on April 25, 2023, when it was referred to the rules committee.

The second bill discussed in the blog post is House Bill 5846, proposed by Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer. It would eliminate provisions from the Medical Assistance Article and Administrative Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code that require covering kidney transplantation services for noncitizens under the medical assistance program. It would also stop providing medical services to noncitizens over age 41 and remove requirements that cover immunosuppressive drugs and services related to kidney transplants for non-citizens. Davidsmeyer filed this rule on May 14, 2024; it was last referred to the rules committee on May 15.

Jacobs was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2020. Before joining the legislature, he was an optometrist and owner of Von Jakob Vineyard in Alto Pass. He served in the US Navy from 1965 to 1971 and has four grown children and ten grandchildren with his wife.