Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is back in the spotlight, this time urging federal officials to speed up work authorizations for migrants while also launching a nonprofit to bolster local neighborhood groups. Lightfoot, speaking at the City Club of Chicago, advocated for creating job opportunities to alleviate financial strains caused by the city's spending on migrant care. "We have got to press our federal representatives to open up, much more quickly, opportunities for people in this country to have jobs," she stated at the event, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
During Lightfoot’s term, the city welcomed nearly 35,000 migrants in response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's controversial decision to send buses of asylum-seekers to sanctuary cities. According to city data, Chicago has already dished out over $156 million in services for these individuals. The former mayor did not comment on current Mayor Brandon Johnson's management of the situation but did note the effort her administration made to ensure a smooth continuity as Johnson's term began. Johnson has also called on the federal government to quickly track work authorization for migrants, hoping to ease the city's financial and logistical pressures.
Alongside her call for expedited migrant work permits, Lightfoot announced the Chicago Vibrant Neighborhoods Collective, aimed at connecting community organizations in need with vital “back office” services such as data analytics and fundraising—all at no cost. Lightfoot will serve as board chair for the organization, which has already secured backing from notable entities like the MacArthur Foundation and the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation. With a focus on fundraising, she quipped to a crowd that included philanthropists and business leaders, "We’re going to be knocking on your door. It’s time to join the cool kids club. Come and fund us," as detailed by the Chicago Tribune.
Earlier, during her term as mayor, Lightfoot had declared an emergency in response to the influx of migrants, highlighting the lack of available space and resources to accommodate them. "I don't know what she's waiting for. We should have been asking the state to provide services from the National Guard for months now," Alderman Brian Hopkins criticized, suggesting the use of National Guard armories as housing solutions. This was part of a statement obtained by ABC7 Chicago following the emergency declaration issued by Lightfoot's office. The crisis, which involved thousands of migrants, mostly from Central and South America, prompted Illinois Congressional Delegation members to urge the DHS and FEMA for rush financial support for Chicago's migrant needs.
In the statement issued by Governor JB Pritzker's office, which was obtained by ABC7 Chicago, the state has provided substantial support and continues to work on resettlement efforts, including dedicating significant funding to aiding asylum seekers. Despite these efforts, the ongoing challenge exemplified by former Mayor Lightfoot's nonprofit initiative and her calls for job authorizations underscores the multifaceted nature of migrant integration and community support.
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