SPRINGFIELD — The migrant crisis that has stretched the resources of the state and Chicago — as well as the political will of its leaders — was top of mind when legislators returned to Springfield this week for the start of their four-month legislative session. 

Lawmakers were only in the state Capitol for a couple of days before skipping town. But, they left with a better framework for how they might address the flood of asylum-seeking migrants who have been bused to Chicago from the border at the behest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican. 

The state has already set aside more than $640 million to deal with the crisis, including $160 million announced in November to speed up the intake process, stand up temporary shelters and move new arrivals into housing. 

The funds already spent likely will need to be accounted for in an appropriations bill. And then there’s the discussion to be had about what to do moving forward as the influx is likely to continue this year. 

“We want to make sure we’re filling all the buckets that we’ve drawn from in order to make sure we’re dealing with the crisis,” said Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week, speaking of the need to account for the money that’s been spent. 

However, it appears that discussion will likely get roped into larger negotiations over the state budget later this spring.

Senate President Don Harmon, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune this week, said "there’s no way we could advance an appropriation bill that dealt only with the newly-arrived migrants."

On the other side of the rotunda, House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, announced on Wednesday the formation of a working group charged with finding legislative solutions to the crisis. 

The goal will be to find consensus among House Democrats before publicly proposing solutions. 

“The recent influx of migrants into our state provides challenges and opportunities that require thoughtful engagement and consensus building,” Welch said. “We know this issue will be an important part of conversations this session, which is why I’m putting together a diverse team with strong, relevant backgrounds ready to act as needed."

Not in those discussions, at least for now, are superminority Republicans, who voiced their displeasure for the amount of state resources expended to care for migrants.

"In lockstep with the White House, Gov. Pritzker and the Democrats have propped up and expanded our sanctuary state policies to make Illinois the new Holiday Inn Express for illegal immigrants," said state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Hindsboro, who chairs the archconservative Illinois Freedom Caucus.

Some Republicans have proposed repealing portions of the Trust Act, the law signed by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2017 that generally prohibits state and local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement.

Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus, who recently traveled to the U.S.-Mexican border and up to Chicago to assess the situation, said Illinois should no longer be a "sanctuary state" for undocumented immigrants.

"The answer is quite simple: secure the border, stop the invasion, suspend our sanctuary policies and then start cleaning up the wreckage," said state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville. 

However, most of the migrants are not here illegally. Under U.S. law, those seeking asylum are generally allowed to remain in the country while waiting for their case to be considered in immigration court. 

Pritzker, responding to calls to end Illinois’ welcoming status, said Thursday they "have zero to do with the current migration crisis that’s occurring." He then repeated his criticism of Abbott.

"It is a challenge for Texas, there’s no doubt about it, and for the nation," Pritzker said. "And it ought to be addressed on a national basis, not on a piecemeal basis. And the governor of Texas causing problems state-by-state to the states that he chooses to send people to and concentrate them, that ought not be the way that we address this."

Pritzker gives his budget address to lawmakers next month.