Chicago migrant crisis: Illinois state government to build intake center for migrant bus drop-offs
Lockport to vote on regulations for migrant bus drop-offs
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The state of Illinois announced Wednesday it will create an expanded intake center for migrants arriving by bus at Chicago's "landing zone."
It is set to launch this month.
A flatbed semi-truck arrived in the South Loop Wednesday afternoon, containing a dozen or so pallets of what appear to be material for the state of Illinois' new intake center.
And organizers said they've been inundated with new arrivals the past two weeks.
So much so, dozens of migrants, wearing very little winter clothing and carrying young children, could be seen arriving Wednesday night on foot.
They took a Metra train in from the suburbs, New Life Centers volunteers said.
The state said the site of the intake center will be co-located with the city of Chicago's bus landing zone at at 800 S. Desplaines St.. It will include six heated tents, and it is an effort to help process what the state calls a "holiday uptick" of asylum seekers.
"It's been a lot. I would say over 1,000, probably 2,000, a lot, a lot more. We got hit hard New Year's Eve," said Eduardo Fuentes, director of community care for New Life Centers.
In addition to the new infrastructure, the state also plans to expand staff and services for new arrivals, aiming to reduce the number of people needing shelter by 10%.
"It's going to help alleviate some of that pressure that the city shelters are facing. With these tents, we're going to be able to take that time and that extra step to really focus on what their needs are," Fuentes said.
In the meantime, the state said a new shelter in Little Village at an old CVS will be finished sometime this month, but it's only estimated to house 220 people.
The announcement comes as the migrant crisis continues, not just at the southern borders, but in the Chicago-area too.
"I'm sure Texas is experiencing a lot of it to a bigger extent than we are at the border. But when they're sending them directly to Chicago, rather than all the other states in between Texas and Illinois, it says it's a political attack," Ald. Andre Vasquez said.
DuPage County said 72 buses have arrived at train stations, containing nearly 3,000 passengers, since Dec. 14.
The City Council in Lockport will meet Wednesday to vote on a resolution that says any incoming unscheduled buses must apply for approval from the chief of police first before they arrive.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke to CNN Tuesday night about the migrant crisis and what the city is planning next. He talked about how the city is handling the influx of migrants, and how he is looking for federal help.
"It's going to require a coordinated resource response from Congress," Johnson said. "We need comprehensive immigration reform policy. Local economies are not designed to hold this type of crisis."
Also Tuesday night, several suburbs held board meetings to vote on measures to prevent unannounced charter buses carrying migrants from dropping them off unscheduled.
"We will continue to ensure that they are met with dignity and compassion, while we call for increased coordination and funding from the federal government to provide a federal solution to this federal challenge," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.
Suburban leaders said they simply do not have the resources to handle even a temporary influx of migrants.
The Hinsdale Village Board passed an ordinance that will fine bus companies that do not give notice of a drop off.
SEE ALSO | Plane from Texas drops off more than 300 migrants at Rockford airport; 8 buses heading to Chicago
"We've recently been advised by a bus driver that unless we do something, these buses will keep coming unannounced at least through March," Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley said.
The far northwest suburb of Woodstock saw an arrival last weekend, and passed its bus regulation ordinance Tuesday night.
"We do not have the staff, the expertise or the money," Woodstock Mayor Michael Turner said. "And that may not be the ideal. We may all wish it was something different, but that's the reality."
Joliet took action Tuesday night, too. Some officials even pleaded for a federal solution.
"It's going to have to be done by the federal government," Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy said. "It's going to have to go to that level to help us all get through this."
SEE ALSO | 1-year deadline approaching for many Chicago migrants to apply for asylum
Leaders in Buffalo Grove and Tinley Park passed similar resolutions to keep unauthorized buses from coming into their communities.
West suburban Glen Ellyn officials Wednesday, however, said they are not planning to enact any restrictions on the ability of migrants and their families to pass through the village.
Right now, there are nearly 15,000 migrants in 27 shelters across Chicago.
