Chicago City Wire

9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale recently delivered a passionate speech addressing the ongoing migrant crisis, expressing his concerns about Chicago's ability to cope with an influx of migrants.

He highlighted the city's high crime rate and its plans to accommodate migrants in high crime areas, with an estimated annual cost of $600 million.

”What else is happening in this country? We have other Democratic cities, Denver, California, L.A., sending their people to Chicago, New York. They're sending their migrants to Chicago. Why? Because they are saying we can't take anymore,” Beale said.

“Chicago has yet to say we can't take anymore. I think we have to draw the line somewhere. It's a diversion to continue to say this is a federal problem.”

“We need help from the federal government. Yeah, we know that. But why are we waiting for the federal government to act? We need to be doing something here at home to protect us.”

“Now, we don't even know the people who are coming to Chicago. The people that are coming here. We don't know if they have criminal backgrounds. We don't know if they're child molesters. We don't know if they're murderers. We don't know. We don't know anything concrete about the people coming here. Now, when you look at what's happening in Venezuela, they are opening their jails and telling them to walk to the border here. So they're coming to Chicago. We already have enough crime here in the city of Chicago. We have another crime here that we're dealing with. And so I can go on and on.”

Ja’Mal Green, a Black Lives Matter activist and former candidate for Chicago Mayor, highlighted Beale's speech on X.

“Migrant crisis: Alderman Anthony Beale gives an impassioned speech about how Venezuela is emptying their prisons and sending them to the border. Chicago already has a high rate of violence and will be setting up tents for them in high crime areas. Price tag: 600 Million a year,” Ja’Mal Green said on X.

Others have raised concerns about the presence of members of the Venezuelan prison gang, "Tren De Aragua / TdA," among asylum seekers, known for their extreme brutality and involvement in violent criminal activities.

A purported gang member has been arrested twice in Chicago, using different names, raising questions about sanctuary city policies.

The gang has been linked to various violent criminal activities, including murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping, arms trafficking, human trafficking, and extortion. It has expanded its influence across several South American countries, prompting concerns about its rapid growth and potential threats.

The concern regarding the presence of such illegal immigrants has emerged in the context of proposed "Johnsonville" tent cities, part of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's plan to establish winterized tents for housing migrants.

Protests have erupted in neighborhoods where such tent cities are expected to house around 1,600 illegal immigrants, with reports of rampant illegal activities like prostitution.

Beale's speech comes as the Chicago City Council is preparing to vote on whether a referendum should be added to the march primary in Chicago that would remove the city’s designation as a “sanctuary city.”

Those supporting Johnson were accused of using aggressive tactics to prevent other aldermen from supporting such a stance.

Chicago has been subjected to an influx of more than 17,000 illegal immigrants since August 2022, according to Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications.