Chicago City Wire

Two aldermen want voters to decide if Chicago should remain a so-called "sanctuary city."

Aldermen Anthony Beale and Anthony Napolitano have forwarded a resolution that calls for adding a referendum to the March 19 presidential primary ballot that asks residents for their take on whether Chicago should remain a safe haven for the thousands of migrants and refugees seeking asylum here.

The proposal calls for a ballot yes-or-no proposition that asks: "Should the City of Chicago continue to keep it's designation as a Sanctuary City?"

On Facebook, Ald. Napolitano wrote: "The Resolution creates a ballot referendum where residents (YOU) can decide if Chicago should remain a sanctuary city. The ordinance we created requires Aldermanic approval for Any & All temporary illegal-immigrant housing within their ward.

"The illegal-immigrant crisis is quickly spiraling out of control, and the hardworking residents of Chicago are left holding the bag. Our residents and the integrity of their neighborhoods need to remain our top priority!"

Ald. Beale told WGN 720AM that Chicago's designation as a "sanctuary city" started as an executive order in a "different time and different era." The alderman said he is pushing the issue because he doesn't think it's fair that residents of his far South Side ward often get denied city benefits due to budget shortfalls, yet millions are being spent to care for "illegal migrants."

Becoming a sanctuary city "was never done under the climate we have now. We weren't spending … $600 million a year for illegal migrants to come into the communities like they are now. I think it has really outlasted its existence," Beale said on "The Althimer Show." "If we are going to continue to spend this kind of money, I think the people should have a voice if we should continue to have this designation or not."