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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an emergency proclamation
Tuesday in response to the influx of migrants.
“Yes, of course, we are a welcoming city and we always do what’s
right by our immigrant and refugee communities, but we have
reached a breaking point in our response to this humanitarian
crisis,” Lightfoot said during a Tuesday news conference.
Lightfoot’s declaration grants the mayor the ability to request
assistance from the Illinois National Guard.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic El Paso Mayor
Oscar Leeser have been busing migrants to Chicago and other
cities since last year to protest the Biden administration's
handling of the border. Leeser also declared a state of
emergency in El Paso as enforcement of the Trump-era Title 42
health authority ends Thursday.
Since August of last year, Chicago has seen more than 8,000
migrants bused to the city.
Activists are currently pushing for more resources for the many
migrants arriving in Illinois, as hundreds are sleeping in
police stations.
Lightfoot is not happy with the amount of FEMA funds the city
just received compared to last year.
“We need a national solution for this national challenge,”
Lightfoot said. “This can’t be done city by city, state by
state. It has to be comprehensive and originated by the federal
government.”
The situation will worsen this week, border observers say. Title
42, which allowed the government to turn away asylum seekers on
public health grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic, ends
Thursday. Tens of thousands of migrants have reportedly gathered
at the border in anticipation of crossing into the U.S.
Some Republican lawmakers have highlighted the fact that
Illinois is the only state that provides full health care for
immigrants over a certain age. A recent report showed the cost
for that health care will balloon to nearly $1 billion in fiscal
year 2024.
State Rep. Marty McLaughlin, R-Barrington, brought up the
migrant situation to members of the House Tuesday and asked his
colleagues to do the right thing during budget talks.
“Please serve, protect and honor your pledge to take care of the
citizens of Illinois first, particularly our most vulnerable, as
we go over the budget over the next 10 days,” McLaughlin said.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in Illinois for the
Center Square. He has over 30 years of experience in radio news
reporting throughout the Midwest.
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