By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – A Central Illinois lawmaker wants to include funding for the nation’s border with Mexico in a new military aid package for the Middle East.

But, with a Democratic-controlled Senate and a Republican-controlled House, that could be difficult.

For Congressman LaHood, he’s taking a ‘wait and see’ approach before voting yes or no on the new aid package.

“We want to see comprehensive change at the southern border,” the Republican from Dunlap told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “We want to make sure we are stopping the flow of illegal migrants coming across the border and the problems it’s causing throughout the United States. We’ve seen it in Chicago. Essentially, cities across the country are becoming border cities. Again, I’m going to take a ‘wait and see’ approach.”

To find common ground, President Joe Biden submitted an emergency request to Congress.

That package includes funding for Ukraine, Israel and the nation’s border.

Cities like Chicago are scrambling to find housing for hundreds of asylum-seekers from the southern border.

Governor Pritzker and Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson have elected to set aside $150 million in the state’s 2024 budget for migrant housing.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].