Lori Lightfoot, President of the Chicago Police Board and Chair of the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force, addresses inquiries during a news conference related to the findings of an investigation into the Chicago Police Department by the Department of Justice on Friday, Jan 13, 2017 in Chicago. (Santiago Covarrubias/Sun Times via AP)

Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot has become the latest politician to provide funds to illegal aliens. Most notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that his state will make funds available to illegals as well. Lightfoot’s office issued a press release on Tuesday notifying residents that she had signed an executive order “explicitly ensuring that all benefits, opportunities, and services provided or administered by the City of Chicago are accessible to all residents, regardless of birth country or current citizenship status.”

Lightfoot stated:

This order is more than just an official decree, it is a statement of our values as a city and as Americans. Since COVID-19 first reached our city’s doorstep, we have been working around the clock to ensure all our residents are secure and supported, including our immigrant and refugee communities, who are among the most vulnerable to the impact of this pandemic. Here in Chicago, saying ‘we are all in this together’ means that during this crisis, no one gets left out and no one gets left behind.

“Not all of Chicago’s residents qualify for federal stimulus checks, state unemployment insurance or other economic assistance due to their documentation status. These Chicagoans are our family members, co-workers, neighbors and friends,” said 22nd Ward Alderman Michael D. Rodriguez.

Additionally, the city has implemented several programs that are available to all residents, including immigrants, which include Housing Assistance Grants, “online Enrichment Learning Resources through Chicago Public Schools” and a “$100 million Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund.”

“Most individuals in our immigrant community labor in industries pummeled by the COVID-19 crisis, such as restaurants and hotels. Although many of these workers collectively pay billions of dollars in taxes, they are excluded from the federal aid package signed by Congress.” said 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas.

No one is surprised by Lightfoot’s executive order. And in deep blue Chicago, I’m sure the majority of voters fully endorse her decision.

Lightfoot is a strong supporter of her city’s immigrant community and a determined defender of Chicago’s sanctuary city ordinance which “bars police from giving federal ICE officials access to people in local custody. Among other things, it also prohibits on-duty police officers from talking with ICE officials before a person’s release, or allowing ICE agents to use local police facilities for investigations or interviews.”

The mayor has frequently clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Last month, Lightfoot said, “If ICE  is complaining, then they should do their job better. They’re critical because we have said very clearly we are a welcoming city, a sanctuary city. Chicago Police Department will not cooperate with ICE on any immigration-related business. And that’s affected their ability to conduct immigration raids across the city. But that’s exactly our intention.”