Checkpoint: Chicago Government Pledges Crisis Management
NBC Chicago
Background
The city of Chicago has been at the forefront of the sanctuary city movement, providing a haven for immigrants and refugees seeking a better life since the 1980s. However, the Windy City's role as a safe space for asylum seekers has recently become very challenging as an unprecedented influx of immigrants arrives daily by the busload into an increasingly overcrowded metropolis. The vast majority (around 19,000) of Latin American immigrants come from Venezuela–––where citizens face an ongoing political, economic, and social crisis–––and have crossed up to eight other countries to find safety in the United States. The local government scrambles to find new and innovative solutions to what is now deemed an emergency, all while facing harsh backlash from native residents who feel excluded from the conversation. With limited housing options, stretched-thin social services, and concerns about the coming notorious Chicago winter, Mayor Brandon Johnson, elected in April of this year, searches for ways to appease all members of the community. "We've had more buses show up in the last fifteen weeks than all of last year combined," said Johnson. "I don't know if we should continue to look at this merely as a crisis. This is our reality." Tasked with a near-impossible situation, in his first few months in office, no less, Johnson has stated that sacrifices are to be made at all levels of government to ensure the safety and well-being of both immigrants and Chicagoans.
Desperate Times: Migrant Housing Efforts
Staring down approaching below-zero temperatures and fierce winds that give Chicago its beloved nickname, the government plans to house migrants in weather-fortified tents and other shelters. While several humanitarian groups have expressed concern over the feasibility of this plan, Alderman Ronnie Mosely of the 21st Ward reassures them with much-needed details about the makeup of these dwellings. "They are FEMA, Red Cross, military tents," Mosely shared. "They [...] have different populations of housing density, but they can withstand winds of 90 miles per hour in a hurricane. They have [...] heating, [...] AC, [...] ventilation, [and] water. They give opportunities for kitchens, [...] restrooms, [and] washer and dryers." The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the United States government's leading crisis response agency, reacting to and assisting people in situations of dire need.
Furthermore, the City Council's Committee on Housing and Real Estate backed a proposed project to purchase a vacant lot and convert it into a migrant camp. Presently, the city plans to utilize only the parking lot of the 6.5-acre site at 115th and Halsted Streets. Pushback ensued when residents reminded the government that the area had already been set aside for the Morgan Park Commons project–––a housing, real estate, and park space–––in 2024. However, the Commons would eventually come to fruition after the lot is no longer necessary for emergency migrant housing. The mayor's priority is moving migrants off the floors of police stations before winter arrives. "We are moving with expediency because the weather is going to be shifting very soon," stated Mayor Johnson. "And so, before inclement weather sets in, we fully expect to have these base camps established."
Desperate Measures: Comprehensive Budget Planning
On October 13th, Johnson held a virtual briefing to reveal more details about his first budget plan for the Windy City. He intends to close a funding gap of more than $500,000 without increasing taxes but also promises several consequential investments to Chicagoans, such as improved mental health and medical services. Earlier that week, the mayor gave his 2024 budget address amidst a barrage of criticisms, declaring that his team has requested better coordination and support from the federal government to help facilitate the immigrant overpopulation problem. He also promised a reformed tax system that would take the burden of financing projects, such as remedying the migrant crisis, off the shoulders of lower-income families and individuals.
Mayor Johnson set aside $150 million for the crisis in 2024, a much lower number than anticipated but assuredly one that will appease communities worried the city is overspending on asylum-seekers and neglecting struggling Americans. "This administration is also committed to fiscal responsibility and ensuring that we have the resources to pay for these new investments," he said. "We will not repeat the failures of the past by spending money we do not have and bankrupting our future." It remains to be seen whether the amount will be enough to fund the emergency, which grows more pressing by the day. The city of Chicago–––along with other cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Houston–––has pressured the Biden Administration to provide more expansive financial aid (around $5 billion) to sanctuary cities. Catalina Andrade, founder of the Miguel Angel Rios Memorial Project, advocated for better conditions for the migrants, saying, "Chicago is a sanctuary city. [...] I do believe these families need to be treated with respect and dignity."
Summary
The city, as well as human rights groups assisting the incoming migrants, have emphasized their desire to make the newest inhabitants of Chicago productive members of society. However, without proper housing, the immigrants cannot find decent employment and begin to pay taxes and pull their weight in the United States workforce. Julie Contreras, a pastor and the founder of the humanitarian group United Giving Hope, pointed out that the migrants did not travel to the country to sit back and allow social services and American taxpayers to fund their lives. "Give the Venezuelan [and] Colombian asylum seekers a bucket, [...] mop, [...] broom, and soap, and they will [...] clean and create their homes inside of these abandoned buildings. We need to provide resources in [...] social services [...] to rehabilitate them so they can be a positive in our community and contribute to us," she said.
Residents and politicians alike in Chicago hope that the mayor's new budget proposal and housing plan make a difference in the continuous problem, especially before the cold arrives. Chicago's history as a sanctuary city has always been a testament to its commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and the protection of its most vulnerable residents–––hopefully, the government can fulfill its promise to balance the needs of both newcomers and longtime Chicagoans. The Windy City has shown resilience in the face of the changing political and economic landscapes and is doing its best with what it has to stand by both immigrant and black communities. Hopefully, the city will maintain its example of how a municipality can embrace its role as a sanctuary while preserving a just and equal environment for all people.
