Chicago migrant plan details released by Mayor Brandon Johnson
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released his plan to deal with the city's growing migrant crisis Friday morning.
The plan will have an immediate impact on anyone arriving in Chicago starting today, and appears to be an effort to discourage migrants from coming here or staying here.
City officials who briefed reporters on the new plan would not say that was the specific intent, but they are keenly aware that migrants here are communicating via social media with others who may be looking to come with Chicago, and so the plan may indeed need to accomplish that purpose.
Even though the city is already seeing a slowdown in the number of buses arriving in Chicago with asylum seekers, the new policy that limits their stay in shelters to two months may serve to discourage migrants wanting to come here.
"We have a commitment to bring people indoors, the folks in our police stations and outside of police stations and at the airport. And this helps us to open bed space at our existing shelters," said Beatriz Ponce de Leon, Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights.
The plan has three prongs, done in partnership with the state of Illinois.
The first is to increase personnel at a new arrival landing zone to help migrants from the time they get off the bus either find shelter here or get to their next destination. This effort is designed to save space in the shelter system.
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"We are increasing personnel at the landing zone and staging areas to facilitate connections to other destinations for individuals who do not wish to stay in Chicago," Johnson said.
The city is also working with the state to find a brick and mortar site to process the new arrivals, so all that work does not have to be done outside at the current landing zone with winter weather just around the corner.
Thursday, Governor JB Pritzker pledging more money and support to help with the city's growing crisis announcing an additional $160 million in funding including $30 million for a centralized intake center.
"That's what we've been fighting for, a welcome center for migrants, asylum seekers where they could come in, and eventually start helping them integrate in the community," Baltazar Enriquez of the Little Village Community Council said.
Meanwhile, migrants would be asked if Chicago is their final destination and if not, the city could facilitate transportation.
"With this approach we anticipate reducing the number of people who need shelter by approximately ten-percent," Pritzker said.
Second, the city is regulating rogue buses which city officials say can cause unnecessary logistical obstacles for intake.
The new regulatory tools will allow the city to cite and fine bus companies that disregard curfews, landing zone locations and loading or unloading protocols.
"Rogue buses essentially put individuals seeking asylum in danger and especially with you know, the winter weather. We can't allow you know that type of behavior to happen," said D
Governor JB Pritzker outlines plans for migrant intake center, funds for shelter
And third, the city plans to implement a 60-day limited stay policy at shelters.
The shelter stay limits will also have a three-tiered policy. New arrivals and those who have been here since 2022 will be the first impacted. Those who arrived before August will get their notices starting on Dec. 4. The rest won't be notified before Feb. 1. The city made it clear people will not be forcibly evicted.
"The goal is that people will leave and understand the policy and they will be coached and they will have support from their residential aides and their case managers," said Brandie Knazze, Department of Family and Support Services.
The goal of that policy according to officials is to accelerate re-settlement to keep new arrivals out of tents and police station lobbies.
The city says migrants should apply for rental assistance through a state assistance program and look for housing right away during the 60 day period.
If someone can't secure housing at the end of the 60 days the city says they could get an extension for special circumstances or return to the landing zone to request new shelter placement.
Also with the state having limited resources for rental assistance, new arrivals are also being told when they get there, that unlike the help available to previously arriving asylum seekers, when their time in shelters runs out there will not be any help to rent a place to stay.
