Tempers flare at community meeting about housing migrants at Richard J. Daley College

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Last weekend, migrants moved into Wright College on the Northwest Side.

Officials on Thursday night said Richard J. Daley College is an ideal location because it's move-in ready and a fraction of the cost of a hotel, but many in the Southwest Side crowd didn't want to hear it.

"When do citizens of the United States of America come first?" One man asked during the meeting.

The city, starting as early as this weekend, is preparing to use the gymnasium until Aug. 1 and two auxiliary classrooms through the end of November to shelter more than 400 migrants.

SEE ALSO | Wright College meeting to discuss housing for up to 400 migrants on Dunning campus gets heated

Those structures have room for sleeping and gathering. There are offices, updated bathrooms, heating, air conditioning and even a basketball court.

"This is about being human and providing humane spaces for them," said Alderman Jeylu Gutierrez, who represents the 14th Ward.

City officials got an earful at the meeting.

"How about this? Give them all these politicians' addresses, and put them in their backyards, in their basements, in their houses," one woman said.

Some were receptive to the city's idea.

"I served my country," one man said. "We need to give these immigrants a chance."

The debate, however, also ignited anger about how the city, for decades, has treated its poor.

"We do not take care of our own people," one woman said.

"There's no resources taken from our shelter system and the housing within our shelter system, as well as outreach agencies who are providing services on the street," said Christine Riley with the Dept. of Family and Support Services.

Some attending Thursday's meeting say any plan should include room and resources for local homeless people as well.

"You're not treating our own with any dignity and respect, but you're treating the immigrants with a lot of dignity and respect. I have a problem with that," said Juanita Eason, who lives on the Southwest Side.

The gathering comes a day after the Chicago City Council, at a heated meeting, approved $51 million in emergency funding for the migrant crisis. That money is only expected to last through the end of this month.

"You speak very much the money. It's our money. Every dollar you give is our money," one man said.

Alderman Derrick Curtis, who represents the 18th Ward, voted against that funding.

"I do feel like it's a done decision already. I do feel that way. And, is it fair? No. But, when they told me that they were looking at the colleges, the city colleges, first thing I said, 'We could not do this without having a community meeting,'" Curtis said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said he's working on a long term plan to pay for all of that, and shelter the migrants, but, so far, has not given a lot of details.

Officials moving people into Wright College reduced the number of migrants sleeping at police stations from more than 800 last week to less than 640 now.