Chicago braces for potential surge of thousands of migrants
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Deputy Mayor Ponce de León speaks Tuesday at City Hall about a potential migrant surge. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios.
City officials are bracing for up to 25,000 new migrants arriving between now and the Democratic National Convention after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would keep busing people here.
Why it matters: The city struggled to accommodate just 15,000 last winter, and the potential deluge could double that number if it materializes.
Catch up quick: On the third night of the Republican National Convention last week, Abbott told supporters: "We have continued busing migrants to sanctuary cities across the entire country, and those buses will continue to roll until we finally secure our border."
What they're saying: "We've looked at estimates of 20,000 to 25,000 people arriving," deputy mayor for immigration Beatriz Ponce de León tells Axios.
- "It depends on how many people are crossing the border. Right now there is a slowdown because of the executive order that puts limits on how many people can cross and ask for asylum, but that is being challenged in court."
The intrigue: It's unclear where Abbott would find that many migrants who want to move to Chicago. But if President Biden's order restricting migration falls, Ponce de León believes we'd feel it acutely here.
The plan: Officials are intentionally keeping about 5,000 shelter beds open in case of a sudden influx. If those are filled, the city can activate thousands of "just-in-time" beds for 30 days, she says.
- If those max out, the state will be ready with additional beds, "but we hope we don't have to get to that third level."
Context: The deputy mayor made the statements after a Tuesday meeting of the City Council's immigration committee, during which she denied a request by some alders to ease the city's 60-day migrant shelter limit.
- "The mayor directed us to talk to our stakeholders, talk to the alders and community partners and get to know what is actually happening," she said. "And we decided at this time to maintain the policy as is, especially as we aim to have some stability through the summer."
Between the lines: Ald. Maria Hadden had pushed to ease the policy but acknowledges the need to keep beds available now.
- "I trust what they're telling us about needing to be prepared so we don't face a bigger cost to human lives and safety, but as soon as the DNC is over, we really need to address" unifying the homelessness and migrant missions.
By the numbers: The city and state are housing 5,621 migrants in 17 shelters, down from nearly 15,000 in December.
- Last December, migrant housing cost the city nearly $1.5 million a day, but it has now dropped to $677,000 a day.
- The mission is expected to cost about $700 million this fiscal year.
What's next: Ponce de León says she has asked FEMA for extra funding to address the potential surge but has not yet heard back.