Immigrants

Around 118 McLean County immigrants are losing their health benefits through HBIA. They might face difficult decisions related to health care. The program is set to expire June 30.

Programs offering insurance to undocumented — and some documented — residents are undergoing some cost-saving changes.

Migrants who already struggle to talk about their trauma find a persistent shortage of mental health workers. Support groups are trying to fill the void.

Advocates argued the rules changes were too costly for low-income patients. The governor’s office said co-pays should not have been charged yet anyway, though they are expected to resume eventually.

The impact of the state’s backtrack on noncitizen health care remains to be seen. What’s clear is that immigrants in McLean County have come to rely on this short-lived expanded access to health care.

Camila Graunke, a graduate of Illinois State University's Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, is settling into her new role as Hispanic outreach director. She's been in the post since July, when longtime civic leader Socorro Alvarez retired after three decades.

The City of Chicago is reaching out to other cities across Illinois for help as it deals with an influx of immigrants bused in by red-state governors. Chicago has received more than 1,000 immigrants bused north from states, including Florida and Texas.

Housing and food insecurity issues are already a struggle for immigrants, and the COVID-19 pandemic financially devastated many by limiting their work opportunities.

Housing and food insecurity issues are already a struggle for immigrants, and the COVID-19 pandemic financially devastated many by limiting their work opportunities.

Constantina Navarrete grew up helping her father farm corn, beans and squash in southern Mexico.She grew up poor, she said, and everyone around her had…