Immigrants in Chicago receiving COVID-19 pandemic relief checks

Feb 07, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter/Producer

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter/Producer), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer), Brian Spencer (Editor)

COVID-19 stimulus checks are not yet a thing of the past. Some people, including undocumented immigrants in Chicago, are now eligible for $500 COVID-19 pandemic relief checks.

Chicago is using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. City officials said the payments are for households who didn’t qualify for the federal COVID-19 stimulus payments due to their legal status.

Officials have said undocumented immigrants in their cities were left out despite working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chicago is expecting to give about 17,000 undocumented immigrants COVID-19-relief payments.

Tags: American Rescue Plan Act, Chicago, COVID-19, Immigration

KARHA RUCKER: IF YOU THOUGHT COVID STIMULUS CHECKS WERE A THING OF THE PAST, YOU’RE WRONG.
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR A 500 DOLLAR CHECK FOR COVID PANDEMIC RELIEF.

YOU COULD QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THESE STIMULUS PAYMENTS. IF YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO. AND IF YOU’RE AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT.

THE CITY IS USING FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY THE PAYMENTS ARE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHO DIDN’T QUALIFY FOR THE FEDERAL COVID STIMULUS PAYMENTS DUE TO THEIR LEGAL STATUS.

OFFICIALS SAY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THEIR CITIES WERE LEFT OUT DESPITE WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE CITY IS EXPECTING TO GIVE ABOUT 17 THOUSAND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS COVID-RELIEF PAYMENTS.