Local immigrant advocates and officials are offering mixed responses to President Biden's tougher U.S.-Mexico border rules announced yesterday through an executive order.

Why it matters: The policy could slow the number of migrants arriving on buses from Texas ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August, but it's likely to face pushback from both ends of the political spectrum.

Context: Chicago has received more than 40,000 migrants, mostly bused from Texas, since 2022.

• Shelter populations have been hovering around 7,000 in recent weeks, down from a high of 14,500 in December.

Zoom in: Most migrants who illegally cross the border will be blocked from asylum and could face fast-tracked deportation, according to U.S. officials.

• One senior administration official told reporters yesterday that removal to Mexico or a migrant's home country could happen within a few hours under the new order.
• Once illegal border crossings fall below a daily average of 1,500 in a week, the normal border process with increased access to asylum would resume two weeks later.

Flashback: The order mirrors a bipartisan border deal struck earlier this year, which Republicans killed at the direction of former President Trump.

What they're saying: "As President Joe Biden has said, our reliance on a nearly 40-year-old immigration process is inadequate for effectively and humanely addressing today's challenges," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement yesterday.

• "Congress has the responsibility to provide meaningful reform — reform that includes permanent solutions for Dreamers, spouses of American citizens and long-term workers."

Yes, but: City Council immigration committee chair Ald. Andre Vásquez tells Axios he would prefer to see Biden address the root causes of Venezuelan migration by lifting U.S. sanctions that have hurt the economy, and expand work permits to those already here "so they can be an economic boost rather than an economic drain" on Chicago.

The other side: "By taking a page directly from the Trump playbook and enacting cruel policies on vulnerable people for political reasons, Biden has chosen counterproductive actions that put families and communities in harm's way," Lawrence Benito, executive director of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, tells Axios.

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SAG-AFTRA, the union representing WBEZ journalists, this week filed a federal unfair labor practice charge against parent company Chicago Public Media, alleging the company failed to provide information needed "to represent members and enforce the union contract."

Why it matters: The move marks the latest in a series of escalatory actions from each side, two months after CPM announced 14 layoffs and the dissolution of its podcast unit and sister station Vocalo.

The latest: Monday afternoon, union members planned to ask questions at the CPM board meeting but learned the event was switched from in-person to a Zoom meeting with the chat disabled and cameras off for public attendees.

What they're saying: "To have such a lack of public input in your annual meeting where you are approving the new budget, I just don't know how that happened. I am very surprised, and I'm very disappointed," WBEZ anchor Mary Dixon told Crain's.

The other side: "CPM's board standards and open meeting policies — which have been previously shared with SAG-AFTRA representatives — allow for the public to attend and observe an open meeting. Attendance does not include the right to participate in the meeting," a CPM spokesperson said in a statement.

What's next: The regional office of the National Labor Relations Board is expected to investigate the charge in coming months and determine whether it has merit.

Editor's note: Monica, Carrie and Justin all previously worked at WBEZ, in union and management positions.

🚔 Chicago police superintendent Larry Snelling says CPD is training up to 3,000 officers to respond to potential protests and civil unrest at the Democratic National Convention in August. (Tribune)

🪲 The sexually transmitted disease that makes cicadas zombie-like has been found among the latest broods in the Midwest. (NBC 5)

⚾️ Sox star Luis Robert made his return to the team last night after spending almost two months on the injured list. He homered, but the Sox lost to the Cubs 7-6. (Sun-Times)

Chicago boasts plenty of tasty barbecue from all over the country, but we've long lacked representation from seaside South Carolina.

What's happening: Edisto Islanders Brandon and Katherine Rushing filled that niche last weekend, opening Briny Swine Smokehouse and Oyster Bar in Lincoln Park.

• This is their first Briny outpost outside South Carolina.

Dig in: The menu includes Oakwood smoked beef brisket ($26), pulled pork ($21) and ribs ($29) with five sauces including the mustardy "Alabama white."

• Seafood, including shrimp boils, oysters and she-crab soup.
• Also, Carolina specialties like boiled peanuts ($8), cornbread with sorghum butter ($9), and hash and rice ($5).

Drink up: Cocktails offered include a boiled peanut martini and low-country margarita ($13), craft beer ($7), whiskey flights ($26) and wine.

Listen in: Check out live music on the weekends in one of Briny's three dining rooms.

📆 Start planning your days ahead.

Beach House at North Avenue Beach on June 29: Prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience featuring top-notch performances, all in celebration of the genre that firmly established Chicago on the global music scene. $10-$55.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

🏛 You know your architecture! 86% of you guessed correctly that Carrie was at the Mies van der Rohe-designed building at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Catch up quick: Mies defined the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, and you can see his works across Chicago and the suburbs, including 860-880 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the Edith Farnsworth House in Plano (one of Carrie's faves).

▶️ Keep playing, and guess where else we've popped up recently.