Mayor Brandon Johnson has revealed that the migrant crisis will cost the city a staggering $255.7 million by year's end, according to reporting from the Chicago Sun-Times. Additionally, his controversial plan to move asylum seekers out of police stations and into "winterized base camps" in the form of giant tents has been maintaining full-speed progress, leaving alderpersons in the dark regarding specific details and locations.
The price tag for Chicago's humanitarian crisis has been rapidly soaring. Between August and December of 2022, the city spent $17.5 million on housing, food, clothing, and other essential care for asylum seekers. However, the increasing number of new arrivals has caused the city's spending to balloon to $115.2 million from January to July 2023. For the rest of the year, city officials have estimated the crisis will cost another $123 million, bringing the grand total to $255.7 million, as reported by the WTTW News.
Caught in a difficult situation, Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), chair of the Council's Committee of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, is unsure where the $255.7 million will come from. With other cities in Illinois also struggling with the migrant crisis, Vasquez is advocating for state and federal funds. Reflecting on the scale of the challenge, he said, "If you're looking to other cities across the country that are also dealing with it, that's the scale of the challenge."
Mayor Johnson has not ruled out the possibility of budget cuts or tax increases to address a humanitarian crisis that has brought 13,500 migrants to Chicago since last year. Acknowledging the need for "sacrifices" to be made, he warned that failing to make such sacrifices would cause far greater costs and ultimately, "chaos." Meanwhile, Ald. Vasquez seeks alternative sources of funding, believing that there could be federal stimulus funds, grant money, or more assistance from state and federal governments.
In a Chicago Sun-Times interview, Mayor Johnson outlined his plan to transfer migrants from police stations into more suitable housing and shelters, while expressing determination to move with expediency. The mayor and his top aides have been holding virtual briefings for city council members, however, they have not provided them with specific details about the tentative location or cost of the tents. Instead, council members were asked to identify potential sites in their wards that could accommodate at least 200 people.
As reported by WTTW News, the city is expected to spend an additional $123 million between August and December, bringing the total spending to over $300 million by the end of the year. Johnson maintains that these migrants deserve care that "recognizes their dignity."
With the winter months approaching and migrants still residing in police stations or even sleeping on airport floors, inaction becomes less and less of an option. Mayor Johnson has acknowledged the urgency of the situation, saying, "The cost of inaction will be far more substantial."
Seeking help from the Biden administration, Mayor Johnson, and Governor J.B. Pritzker have been pressing for migrants to be allowed to work in industries facing labor shortages. They have also requested the federal administration to take on a larger share of the cost of providing food, shelter, and medical care for the migrants. Despite only receiving $38 million in reimbursements from the federal government, both city and state officials remain persistent and hopeful for further assistance, as the crisis continues to escalate in their region.
