Brighton Park residents protest, march Friday against plans for migrant camp

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Hundreds turned out in Bright Park a protest and march Friday afternoon over plans to build a base camp for Chicago migrants there.

Southwest Side residents have been protesting against the migrant base camp for weeks, and said they will keep it up until the city gives them a clear plan that addresses all of their safety concerns.

The city says the lot in Brighton Park that it's leasing, is still under an environmental review, but work crews proceed to move forward. Friday morning, however, there was no work being done on the lot.

Chicago migrants get expedited work permits with newly launched pilot program

The pushback has been relentless. Brighton Park residents have staged protests almost daily to halt the winterized tent camp from being built.

"We all feel worried about our neighborhood because it's not like... I know other areas they have migrants. But it's like 200 there, 300 there, but now they're talking about all of a sudden a few thousand people will be here," said Ada Chen, resident.

"You're going to give them government funding? I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Us being homeless here in the United States, you haven't came out and helped us like you're helping these people," said protester Linda Norris.

Ricardo Palacios lives across the street from the lot. He said he's worried about safety and upset that the city is poised to spend more than $90,000 a month on the lease for the winterized camp.

"Ninety-three thousand dollars that they're gonna give to these people when they could have spent it on our school, on our education for our kids, on our senior citizens for the community," Palacios said. "They're spending it negligently."

Hundreds marched from the proposed camp to to Ald. Julia Ramirez's office today, demanding answers. The office was closed in observance of Veterans Day, but that didn't stop residents from taping signs to her window, letting her know they were there.

"Find a better solution for us. It's incumbent to all of us. But we need a better result," said protester Robert Silvester.

"Our mayor and our alderwoman sold us out. They never told us what was happening. All of a sudden they come in there and they're doing construction. And if we wouldn't have been fighting this, this thing would've already been done," said resident Ricardo Palacios.

Meanwhile a second lot near 115th and Halsted streets has been purchased by the city and work is expected to start soon.

"I feel that the people of Chicago should be taken care of first before migrants coming into Chicago." Gibbons said. "That's why our movement is for repealing the sanctuary city ordinance."

Residents concerned as plans for controversial Brighton Park migrant camp move forward

The mayor said his effort is focused on creating more housing for new arrivals before it gets too cold.

As of Friday, more than 2,500 asylum seekers are sleeping at Chicago police stations and airports.

In a statement the city acknowledged plans for the Morgan Park lot to be converted to an affordable housing complex next year, writing, "The commitments from the Johnson Administration are expansive -- a base camp deadline, community contracts, capital improvements, support for housing, health and safety, and breaking ground on Morgan Park Commons in 2024."