The long-delayed plan by Chicago to remove thousands of migrants from municipal and state-run shelters will finally go ahead on Sunday. Local elected leaders and activists have expressed their indignation at this decision, and the migrants themselves, who will now have to quickly find other lodging, are confused.
It was announced on Friday by city authorities that 2,026 individuals will be removed from their present shelters by the end of April. Thirty-five of those will have to vacate on Sunday. By the end of the month, 244 migrants will be removed overall, and the remaining 1,782 will depart during the course of April.
The city declared in November that it would restrict shelter stays to 60 days and that migrants who exceeded that limit would have to find alternative lodging or return to the city's "landing zone" for newly arrived migrants and seek placement at another shelter. Months later, the mass eviction is beginning. Due to harsh winter weather, personnel issues, opposition from supporters and some elected officials, and other factors, the city has had to postpone the policy three times.
As of Friday, there were 11,210 residents residing in 23 operational shelters managed by the state and city, according to a municipal census. Since 2022, the city has welcomed around 37,100 new immigrants. A large number of them have come as part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's push to tighten border security. Along with Denver, New York, and other cities, Chicago has seen a surge of migrants, which has boosted demand for housing and placed a pressure on social services.
About 4,500 individuals who would have been forced to leave shelters during the initial wave of evictions, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson's office, will be eligible for exemptions that might provide them further 30-day stays in shelters; for some, this could mean staying until the end of June.
People with certain medical conditions, such as those under quarantine due to a recent measles epidemic, families with children under the age of 18, and individuals who are in the process of finding homes are among the exempt. For the duration of the school year, the exemptions, according to city authorities, will cause the least amount of disturbance.
Johnson released a statement on Friday that said, "While we know Chicago's limited resources cannot meet the full scale of need across the New Arrivals Mission." "We are always considering options that will improve care for all residents of Chicago."
Some who have been assisting immigrants in finding accommodation and gaining access to municipal services claim that the city has not been open and honest about the eviction procedure, and that the exemptions provide no consolation or clarification.
As someone who has been assisting the migrants since last May, Vianney Alarcon stated, "It is a Band-Aid on an open wound, honestly."
One of the main volunteers helping the migrants, Erika Villegas, claimed that migrants have been texting volunteers all the time asking what to do and if they would end up homeless.
Everyone is tense and worried, according to Villegas.
She also took issue with the way the city helps evicted migrants who want to stay in shelter.
According to Villegas, the concept that migrants must leave their existing shelter in order to go to the landing zone and then reenter the system is disorganized and outdated. It only serves to increase uncertainty and wastes public money in an irresponsible manner.
It was announced on Friday by city authorities that 2,026 individuals will be removed from their present shelters by the end of April. Thirty-five of those will have to vacate on Sunday. By the end of the month, 244 migrants will be removed overall, and the remaining 1,782 will depart during the course of April.
The city declared in November that it would restrict shelter stays to 60 days and that migrants who exceeded that limit would have to find alternative lodging or return to the city's "landing zone" for newly arrived migrants and seek placement at another shelter. Months later, the mass eviction is beginning. Due to harsh winter weather, personnel issues, opposition from supporters and some elected officials, and other factors, the city has had to postpone the policy three times.
As of Friday, there were 11,210 residents residing in 23 operational shelters managed by the state and city, according to a municipal census. Since 2022, the city has welcomed around 37,100 new immigrants. A large number of them have come as part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's push to tighten border security. Along with Denver, New York, and other cities, Chicago has seen a surge of migrants, which has boosted demand for housing and placed a pressure on social services.
About 4,500 individuals who would have been forced to leave shelters during the initial wave of evictions, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson's office, will be eligible for exemptions that might provide them further 30-day stays in shelters; for some, this could mean staying until the end of June.
People with certain medical conditions, such as those under quarantine due to a recent measles epidemic, families with children under the age of 18, and individuals who are in the process of finding homes are among the exempt. For the duration of the school year, the exemptions, according to city authorities, will cause the least amount of disturbance.
Johnson released a statement on Friday that said, "While we know Chicago's limited resources cannot meet the full scale of need across the New Arrivals Mission." "We are always considering options that will improve care for all residents of Chicago."
Some who have been assisting immigrants in finding accommodation and gaining access to municipal services claim that the city has not been open and honest about the eviction procedure, and that the exemptions provide no consolation or clarification.
As someone who has been assisting the migrants since last May, Vianney Alarcon stated, "It is a Band-Aid on an open wound, honestly."
One of the main volunteers helping the migrants, Erika Villegas, claimed that migrants have been texting volunteers all the time asking what to do and if they would end up homeless.
Everyone is tense and worried, according to Villegas.
She also took issue with the way the city helps evicted migrants who want to stay in shelter.
According to Villegas, the concept that migrants must leave their existing shelter in order to go to the landing zone and then reenter the system is disorganized and outdated. It only serves to increase uncertainty and wastes public money in an irresponsible manner.
