Illinois To Receive Up To 25 Buses of Asylum Seekers a Day Amid Migrant Surge

Illinois, particularly Chicago, is facing mounting challenges as it grapples with a migrant surge sent from Texas, according to NBC Chicago.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker revealed that he was cautioned to prepare for the arrival of up to 25 buses filled with migrants daily.

This notice came from Texas, which has been actively busing migrants to Chicago, a designated sanctuary city, for several months.

Beatriz Ponce de Leon, the deputy mayor of immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights in Chicago, also confirmed receiving similar guidance, suggesting that these buses could potentially bring in as many as 1,250 migrants each day.

The prospect of 25 daily buses represents a significant surge compared to the numbers reported in Chicago thus far, more than doubling the daily arrivals the city has experienced.

Like other major cities such as New York, Chicago has encountered difficulties providing housing for the more than 17,000 migrants who have arrived since August 2022.

The majority of these migrants have come from Texas, with this initiative largely attributed to Republican Governor Greg Abbott.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker emphasized the substantial communication between his office and Texas, expressing a desire for the Governor of Texas to cease these actions.

He asserted that a collaborative approach to reform is necessary and that dealing with the migrant surge should not fall solely upon Texas.

In response to this situation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker sent a letter to President Joe Biden this week, highlighting the ongoing challenges Illinois is facing in accommodating and sheltering the incoming migrants.

Illinois Migrants Stay in Chicago Airport While Waiting for Shelters

Chicago struggles to accommodate a growing population of asylum-seekers who arrive by plane. This response is distinct and unsettling.

At O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 1, concealed behind a heavy black curtain, hundreds of migrants, ranging from infants to elderlies, have found temporary shelter, per Border Report.

Their accommodations consist of sleeping on cardboard pads on the floor and sharing airport bathroom facilities, all while their movements are monitored by a private firm.

This approach echoes the struggles other cities, including New York, face in their efforts to provide housing for asylum-seekers.

Chicago, however, has adopted an unusual method by utilizing airport facilities, a practice that has not been widely embraced elsewhere.

This distinctive response highlights the city's ad hoc approach to addressing the migrant surge. It has raised concerns about safety and treating those escaping violence and poverty.

Volunteers like Vianney Marzullo, one of the few involved at O'Hare, express concerns about the situation.

She noted that the space was originally intended as a temporary stop-and-go location and emphasized that the issue extends beyond safety considerations to encompass public health matters.

The situation at O'Hare has led some migrants to stay for extended periods, after which they may be relocated to police stations or manage to secure spots in the limited shelters available.

In the coming weeks, Chicago intends to introduce winterized tents. This response mirrors the approach taken by New York in addressing the needs of asylum-seekers.

Chicago Residents Not Happy With Mayor's Proposal on Migrants' Housing

Recent weeks have seen a significant increase in migrant arrivals at Chicago's doorstep, with officials warning of the potential for up to 25 daily buses carrying migrants from the Texas border.

This surge has sparked tension and uncertainty across the city, said Fox 32.

A protest occurred outside the Amundsen Park Fieldhouse in the Galewood neighborhood, where residents expressed concerns about repurposing the fieldhouse into a migrant shelter.

Critics argued that this move would disrupt vital park programs and youth activities.

A community meeting within the fieldhouse on Tuesday evening drew a large, passionate crowd and quickly turned chaotic.

Attendees, eager to voice their opinions, took the spotlight. The uncertainty about when around 200 migrants might move in added to the tensions.

Alderman Chris Taliaferro, who opposes the plan, tried to mediate, but residents demanded more transparency from City Hall.

Community members openly expressed their disappointment to Chicago, Illinois Mayor Brandon Johnson, emphasizing their past support for him.

Tensions persist as city officials grapple with the migrant surge and the concerns of their constituents.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Chicago migrants: Illinois warned to prepare for up to 25 buses of migrants a day - From NBC Chicago