Chicago City Council sanctuary city referendum roundly defeated

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A referendum on the city's sanctuary city status was roundly defeated in the Chicago City Council Thursday.

After public comment, a majority of the City Council voted not to suspend the rules to allow the motion on the sanctuary city referendum to move forward.

While asylum seekers continue to come to Chicago from Texas, in a move seen by some as an effort to embarrass or overburden sanctuary cities like Chicago, the fight to let voters weigh in on the sanctuary policy was shut down.

During a special city council meeting to put a non-binding referendum on the ballot, the mayor and his allies used a procedural move to prevent a vote on the referendum itself.

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Alderman Ray Lopez has been trying to get the referendum on the ballot.

"This crisis is going to cost taxpayers this year alone over $300 million and I think this is a larger issue that requires us to have a broader conversation with our residents so we have better buy-in if we want to continue down this path," Alderman Lopez said.

Supporters of Chicago's sanctuary city status claimed victory, while Lopez was said he was frustrated but not surprised.

"We're gathered today to celebrate the City Council just voted to reject efforts to put a divisive anti-immigrant question on the ballot," said Fasika Alem of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

"The pressure valve in the city of Chicago is already set at maximum because of this administration and his allies who have been unwilling to have an open, honest conversation," Lopez said.

"Look, we can have critical conversations. We're not saying that we cannot. We don't need a question on the ballot that is going to be weaponized and manipulated to sow divisions in our community," said 26th Ward Ald. Jessie Fuentes.

Mayor Johnson later defended the vote as democracy in action.

"Our position is about making sure that we're providing solutions. Showing up to a fight without a solution is irresponsible and negligent," he said.

Alderman Lopez says he is resigned to the fact that the effort to put the city's sanctuary status to the voters is going nowhere in this city council.

The city spent close to $1 million to set up a tent base camp in Brighton Park, but after testing was done on the soil, it was deemed unsafe to live there.

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There are still over 300 migrants living at police stations across the city, waiting for placement into shelters.