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The state has seen over 24,000 noncitizens arrive over the past
15 months, which has led to the state spending more and more
taxpayer dollars to care for the crisis.
A significant amount of arrivals are being housed at O'Hare
Airport and in tents in and outside police stations.
Over the weekend, the city began to move these tents from the
cold as all the migrant tents are now gone from outside the 18th
district police station, the first police station to remove the
tents.
This comes after the city used $29 million in taxpayer funds to
sign a contract for military-grade tents to use for shelter.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said there is money set aside in the
budget to move the noncitizens.
"We are increasing personnel at the landing zone and staging
areas to facilitate connections to other destinations for
individuals who do not wish to stay in Chicago," Johnson said.
The $150 million in the budget will fund 16 warming buses to
keep the noncitizens warm during the winter. Johnson said his
goal is to keep everyone happy.
"We are being fiscally responsible and respecting the taxpayers
of Chicago," Johnson said. "Above all, we are treating our new
neighbors with compassion because it is humane. With support,
they can become productive members of our communities."
According to the National Weather Service, the average winter
temperature in Chicago is 28 degrees.
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