Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois has made a pressing request to Texas Governor Greg Abbott to stop the flow of migrants to Chicago immediately, especially in light of the impending harsh winter weather. This request is made in light of new census data that shows an unanticipated rise in the number of asylum seekers in Chicago—34,562, as of right now—compared to earlier estimates of 4,468.
Pritzker wrote to Abbott, stressing the terrible conditions these people are in as a result of the severe winter, and pleading for sympathy for the thousands of people who are unable to speak for themselves. He emphasized how Abbott’s actions pose a serious risk to life because they are sending the migrants into possibly dangerous weather conditions without providing enough assistance.
Governor Abbott’s administration responded by saying that migrants would only be sent to Chicago after President Biden had secured the border. Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott’s spokesman, chastised Pritzker for his grievances, telling him to urge the President to handle border security instead of complaining about bus drivers taking extra care because of the weather.
Since Abbott started transporting asylum applicants from the US-Mexico border to northern sanctuary cities, thousands of migrants have made Chicago their destination. With many of them being housed in warming buses and makeshift shelters, the city has been working nonstop to provide these people somewhere to stay.
Resources in Democratic-led cities like Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York—which has welcomed over 120,000 asylum seekers—have been strained by the circumstances. An additional $160 million has been set aside by Illinois to aid with the resettlement of migrants in Chicago. This includes financing for interim shelters and food assistance provided in collaboration with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The tragic event of a five-year-old kid being unwell and dying in an overcrowded, cold shelter has further compounded the situation. This has generated questions regarding the safety and suitability of the shelters supplied to the migrants.
Calls for more government assistance have gotten louder as cities like New York and Chicago struggle to deal with the immigration and its effects. In order to control the surge and guarantee the safety of asylum seekers in the face of difficult circumstances, the mayors of these cities are advocating for further support.