Illinois congressman says immigrants are needed to grow economy despite pushback

A Democratic congressman representing Illinois said immigrants were necessary to grow the economy of the United States.

Rep. Mike Quigley’s (D-IL) statement comes as residents of major U.S. cities, including Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C., have pushed back on receiving illegal immigrants who have been transported from the southern border — a tactic used by Republican governors to try and draw the attention of President Joe Biden in order to secure the border. Quigley argued that the U.S. would not be where it is now without immigrants.

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“Without migrants, where are we?” Quigley told MSNBC on Saturday. “This economy, this labor market needs migrants. So if I can’t appeal to your heart by seeing these little kids, who all they’ve been is migrants, and trying to help them, I want to appeal to your brain — how important these migrants could be to our economy and growing it.”

“Chicago and New York,” the Democratic congressman continued, “they have a long history of welcoming migrants and understanding just what they meant to growing the economies of world cities.”

Major U.S. cities have had to deal with an influx of immigrants who have been sent to them from the border, with even local Democrats expressing concern over the situation. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently revealed her fears that more illegal immigrants than the city could handle would arrive “any day.”

Similarly, New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated the increasing population of illegal immigrants would “destroy” the city and that the White House has provided “no support.” Adams also referred to Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) as a “madman” for sending illegal immigrants by bus to sanctuary cities.

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Abbott, in response to Adams and other Democratic mayors who have criticized him, said it was “just outrageous that he would make a comment like that,” adding that it is clear “the policies of sanctuary cities and letting everybody live for free simply do not work.”

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) has demanded that Biden do what he can to secure the southern border and cited the recent arrest of Danelo Cavalcante to make his point. Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who was recently arrested by Pennsylvania police, gave the U.S. “a glimpse” of what Texas has had to deal with in terms of border security.