Ever wonder if Illinois is a sanctuary?

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is an official agency of state government. Their employees receive their paychecks and pensions from the state treasury. The agency was established and is funded by the votes and approval of our elected state officials; namely state reps, state senators, and the governor.

In 2005, with the “vision” of Governor Blagojevich, the agency began offering an “Opportunity I-LOAN” program to a select group of individuals, “even if they do not have a bank account or credit cards or social security number,” according to the brochure.

IHDA promises to review applicants “in lieu of a credit score when one does not exist. Credit reporting companies have failed to identify an important and vulnerable population.” (So has Immigration, folks!)

Now, one might think that these state government do-gooders are unaware that their clients are illegal aliens. Not so! In their brochure they not only make it clear that illegal aliens might be applying for these loans, they welcome them.

Here’s what it says:
“Why do they loan to illegal aliens?
“IHDA, our originators and our mortgage insurance companies will not differentiate between an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and a Social Security Number (SSN). We feel immigration status is an issue for the INS, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies that police these issues.”

And in their FAQ about the program they write:
“Why make this program available to illegal immigrants?
“Only the federal government knows who is legal and who is illegal, regardless of what kind of number is on their tax return. IHDA has no way of knowing anyone’s immigration status, and the federal government won’t share that information with us.”

Now IHDA makes it clear that they fund this program using the tax exempt bond volume cap. “This program does not take any money away from any other group or program. If more residents want to participate in our mortgage programs, IHDA will issue more bonds to accommodate them. IHDA issues bonds several times per year and we have an unlimited capacity to issue more debt to meet demand,” they say.

Free money. No risk. No limit. What world do they live in?

As I read this I kept asking myself how an agency of the State of Illinois could possibly get more deeply involved in aiding, abetting, and harboring illegal aliens.

And if a state agency doesn’t feel they have the authority to verify the identity of someone when they process a mortgage application because, “IHDA does not have the resources of the FBI or the INS or the Department of Homeland Security,” are there any safeguards in place anywhere in Illinois?