Chicago City Wire

Alderman Silvana Tabares of the 23rd Ward has vehemently opposed the establishment of a temporary migrant shelter in her district, voicing apprehensions regarding population density, school overcrowding, and the stretched resources of public safety.

Tabares also stated her intention to work to place a referendum on the March primary ballot, allowing residents to vote on the city's sanctuary city status.

In an effort to oppose the shelter's construction, Tabares encouraged her constituents to sign a petition and join her in her campaign to curtail the city's ability to impose a migrant shelter on a community without adequate input.

In a recent letter sent to her constituents, Tabares highlighted that the Johnson administration had unveiled a proposal to establish temporary, tent-like housing facilities at various sites across the city to alleviate the overcrowding in police stations.

When the state initially unveiled its intentions to accommodate migrants there in February, both the city and her office had expressed opposition to this selection. However, she revealed that the city has reversed its stance and now intends to use this location as a migrant shelter.

“I want you to know I take your feedback in opposition to this camp very seriously,” Tabares said in the letter. “Your concerns are my concerns, and I will continue to fight to raise your voices in City Hall.”

“My position remains unchanged: constructing a migrant shelter in our community is unfair to our current residents due to current population densities, overcrowding in our local neighborhood schools, and overextended public safety resources and police manpower. With these factors in mind, it is clear housing a migrant shelter here would be unwise, unsafe, and irresponsible.”

“The administration has approached this endeavor with a severe lack of transparency, accountability, and community input. Despite the city's efforts to exclude aldermanic and community input, I intend to keep voicing my concerns for the safety of migrants and community members alike.”

Tabares reiterated her commitment to delivering the completed petitions to City Hall and the mayor's administration to ensure that the voices of the community are heard and that common sense prevails in considering the safety of all residents.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced plans to create “winterized” tent cities to house illegal immigrants who have nowhere to go as temperatures across the region take a dive.

The housing needs are more pronounced now that temperatures have dropped below freezing.

The location in the 23rd Ward located at 7050 S. Pulaski Road in Chicago is a former Kmart.

The tent cities, also known as “Johnsonvilles,” created mass concern among area residents.

One Chicago resident said illegal activities such as prostitution are rampant already in such communities.

“It is apparent that prostitution near and among other migrant camps is rampant and increasing,” Sabrina Basquez said on Facebook.

“The page has been sent multiple videos of migrants participating in prostitution. I cannot emphasize enough the safety concerns this means for the camp at 38/California. There are numerous elementary schools within direct walking distance of the camp. For the city to ignore this is absurd and insulting to the residents.”

Meanwhile, at the state level State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) is calling for the immediate repeal of the TRUST Act in Illinois, which designates the state as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, leading to mounting costs for taxpayers.

His stance aligns with Illinois House Republicans who are proposing House Bill 4187 to abolish the TRUST Act, allowing local law enforcement to collaborate with federal immigration authorities, as concerns rise about the financial impact of the influx of migrants, including a burden of $361 million on Chicago taxpayers in 2023.