Chicago 'pauses' new migrant shelters

CHICAGO - As the number of migrants who have arrived in Illinois continues to climb, local lawmakers are clashing over the situation. At the same time, Chicago officials say they are 'pausing' efforts to open additional shelters – and relying on the state to create more beds.

To stay within its ‘New Arrivals Mission’ budget, a spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city is turning its focus to "outmigration and resettlement services." As migrants find more permanent housing, officials say space is becoming available in the city's 28 existing shelters. Officials also say they are prioritizing families and migrants with disabilities.

"As this crisis continues, the city is committed to ensuring that asylum seekers are treated with the dignity and humanity that they deserve while fulfilling our fiduciary responsibilities to the people of Chicago," the city’s spokesperson said.

As the city shifts it focus to resettlement, officials are turning to the state to establish more migrant shelters.

According to Johnson’s office, "the city continues to partner with the State to help fulfill its commitment to provide 2,200 shelter beds for asylum seekers, 220 of which have already been fulfilled at the former CVS site in Little Village."  

Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers are sharing what they witnessed at the southern border during a recent visit.  

"In one week last summer, 57 bodies were found on this farm. The garbage, the clothes, the human biological matter, and other debris piled and scattered all over the border area," said State Rep. Brad Halbrook, (R-Shelbyville).

The state representatives who made the trip to Eagle Pass, Texas earlier this month make up the Illinois Freedom Caucus.  

"It was an experience that was gut-wrenching," said State Rep. Dan Caulkins, (R) District 88. "These folks are being told they are coming to a country that’s going to take care of them when they get here, unfortunately that’s not the case."

The Illinois GOP, on Wednesday, also responded to information that came to light in a recent report by WTTW. It alleges that in the fall, city officials were made aware of unsanitary conditions at a Pilsen migrant shelter – the same shelter where a 5-year-old boy was living before he died in December.

"If Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker can't handle the inherent responsibilities of being a sanctuary city and state, they need to start enforcing US immigration law, call to secure our borders, and work to stop the seemingly endless flow of illegal and unmanaged immigration," said Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy.

Likewise, the Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling for the city and state to reverse sanctuary status.

"It is unsustainable. It will drive the state into bankruptcy and create chaos that we will never be able to recover from," said Caulkins.

Another group of GOP senators and House members said Tuesday they are planning a legislative package in response to the situation. It would include the reversal of the TRUST Act, a 2017 law that protects undocumented immigrants from federal "harassment," prohibiting their being held in local jails on federal detainers and keeping local police agencies from communicating with federal immigration authorities.

Also, on Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker announced $17 million in additional migrant funding. Most of it will be made available to municipalities outside of Chicago that help in the handling of asylum seekers being bused to Illinois from Texas. Four million dollars will support 13 Illinois welcome centers, and $2 million will go toward resettlement services. The funds are part of an Illinois Department of Human Services program.

Additionally, the speaker of the Illinois House has assembled a group of lawmakers to recommend ways to handle the crisis facing Chicago and other parts of the state from the influx of migrants.

Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, a Hillside Democrat, named Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz of Glenview to lead the panel of nine House Democrats in the "New Arrivals Working Group."

"The recent influx of migrants into our state provides challenges and opportunities that require thoughtful engagement and consensus building," Welch said in a statement in which he called the assembled lawmakers "a diverse team with strong, relevant backgrounds ready to act as needed."

Wednesday marked the fourth consecutive day that Chicago officials weren't expecting any buses at its landing zone. To date, Chicago has welcomed at least 35,000 migrants from the southern border.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.