Chicago City Wire

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, the Republican candidate in Illinois' 6th Congressional district race, called out Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot for claiming to welcome migrants but shipping them out to the suburbs.

"Lightfoot proudly raised her hand & declared Chicago a 'sanctuary city' but when migrants show up, she buses them to the suburbs. She talks a big game but passes the buck when things get tough,” Pekau wrote on Twitter. “We must secure the border, treat migrants humanely and keep our communities safe.”

Sixty-four migrants who were bused from Texas to Chicago have been sent to live in a hotel in Burr Ridge, CBS Chicago reported. Gary Grasso, mayor of the southwest suburb, said the village was not notified that the migrants would be sent there. 

The 64 migrants are some of the more than 200 migrants that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent to Chicago in protest of federal immigration policies.

Lightfoot tweeted, “Chicago has always been a city of hope and opportunity. It is where I pursued my education, found success, and started my family. I am committed to ensuring all families, including undocumented immigrants and refugees, can realize their Chicago dreams.”

WTTW reported Lightfoot said city officials weren’t informed when the buses to Chicago were on their way.

“This is a humanitarian crisis manufactured by a cheap politician who is focused on his own political fortunes and pandering to, frankly, the lowest common denominator in his party at the expense of these people’s lives,” Lightfoot said, according to WTTW. “We have to be the opposite of that and do whatever is necessary to stand up in this moment and we will do that.”

She said in another tweet, "Quite frankly it’s very un-American to treat people with the dignity or respect shown by Gov. Abbott. As a city and state we’ve provided housing, food and resources for these families, but this is a national emergency. We need greater collaboration to stop this madness."

Lightfoot said in another tweet, “Chicago is proud, ready and willing to show these new residents what being American is about. Chicago can and will be a home for them if other places won’t.”