Steve Cortes, president of the League of American Workers, said in a June 1 post on X that Illinois higher education policies should be viewed alongside state fiscal pressures and University of Illinois admissions debates.
“Illinois is broke and insanely indebted,” Cortes said. “Super smart American kids cannot get into the University of Illinois, yet it has 6,000 Chinese nationals. Pass a law making sure all ILLEGALS get preferential status for college!”
Cortes made the statement while criticizing Illinois policy priorities involving college access and undocumented immigrants. His post also referred to the University of Illinois enrollment and the state’s broader financial condition.
The Daily Illini reported that the University of Illinois has enrolled nearly 6,000 Chinese students in recent years. The report said Chinese students represented the largest group of international students at the university.
The Civic Federation said Illinois continues to face long-term debt and budget pressures, even as the state has reduced some outstanding obligations. The group said Illinois has held the lowest bond ratings among U.S. states for an extended period.
The League of American Workers advocates for policies affecting American workers and the economy. The organization says it conducts research and develops policy proposals, and it lists Cortes as its founder and president.
