Chicago City Wire

State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) is supporting residents in traditionally Black communities where undocumented immigrants are being settled.

"What people are feeling is that the people who have been in these neighborhoods for generations, they have been treated inhumanely by the same government that is making efforts to provide good care to the asylum seekers," Ford told The Center Square. 

Leaders in Illinois, particularly in Chicago, are urging the federal government to provide assistance in handling the migrants arriving from the southern border. While the city has taken steps to relocate some foreign nationals to various communities, concerns have been raised that more needs to be done to support long-term residents who feel underserved. The city has been accommodating migrant families in the High Ridge YMCA building with plans to move them to Daley College. However, the move was delayed due to workload issues faced by the police.

"Everyone that is experiencing homelessness and trauma should be included in any plan that incorporates the refugees," Ford added. 

The state budget, set to begin in July, includes $43 million for addressing the issue in Chicago, along with additional funds for healthcare and housing services. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been advocating for comprehensive immigration reform and work permits for asylum seekers to provide them with basic needs and job opportunities. Amidst these efforts, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is also calling on President Joe Biden and the federal government to provide more assistance. They emphasize the readiness of communities to welcome migrants and stress the importance of policies and resources that ensure dignified and respectful lives for them. While the city has allocated $51 million for housing and services, it is uncertain how many more migrants will arrive and for how long these funds will suffice.

Chicago resident Andre Smith, who was previously arrested for attempting to block migrant buses from entering the city, has criticized the new $51 million immigrant aid package. Smith described the situation in Chicago as chaotic and called for a temporary pause on the city's sanctuary status, which he believes has contributed to the number of migrants since August, Daily Mail reported. He expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and planning in the allocation of funds, stating that $160 million was previously spent without proper records or a plan, and now an additional $51 million is being allocated for 500 migrants for a period of 30 days. Smith was present during a contentious City Hall debate on the issue, where police had to remove members of the public.

Chicago Republican Party Chairman Steve Boulton is demanding a congressional hearing to investigate the city's spending on converting Wadsworth Elementary School into a housing complex for immigrants. Boulton criticizes the use of over $20 million in state funds, $5.5 million in federal tax dollars through FEMA, and a request for an additional $50 million from the federal government, arguing that the money should be allocated for economic development on the South Side instead. He questions the involvement of elected officials such as Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Chicago), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D), and Sen. Dick Durbin (D), calling for them to face the community affected by the decision, according to South Cook News.

Community activist Paul McKinley accused former mayor Lori Lightfoot of misleading aldermen about the project and claims cartel members could be among those housed in the complex. 

Woodlawn residents, predominantly Black, are protesting the resettlement efforts and expressed their disappointment with Lightfoot's decision, claiming that she would not make such decisions in other neighborhoods. 

The school, intended to serve as a shelter for around 250 people, is part of the city's effort to find housing for approximately 1,500 immigrants out of the 8,000 shipped to the city by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).