Latino Caucus calls on Mayor Johnson to halt migrant shelter evictions

The City Council's Latino Caucus is calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to reconsider his 60-day migrant shelter limits.

Why it matters: The mayor's policy is intended, he says, to encourage migrants to become self-sufficient and reduce stress on the city budget, but it's putting him at odds with some of his closest council allies and fellow progressives.

Driving the news: All members of the Latino Caucus, plus 48th Ward Ald. Leni Manaa Hoppenworth, are asking the mayor to end the 60-day policy to account for a smaller number of new arrivals, noting that the city says it has about 15,000 available beds but only about 7,000 migrants in shelters.

• The council members also want the administration to track and report the destinations for new arrivals who have been evicted, and brief the caucus on the DNC summer surge contingency plan.
• Plus, they want updates on the new arrivals dashboard and projected spending through the end of the year.

State of play: From June 13-16, the city enforced 56 mandatory exits, including of some families.

• Yes but: All evictees can get back in line for a new spot the day they leave a shelter.
• More than 50% of those evicted in recent months have cycled back almost immediately.

What they're saying: "With an uptick in reports of new arrivals sheltering in parks and on the streets, we need answers regarding the ways in which the combined money for fiscal year 2024 from the city, state and county — $230M, $182M and $70M respectively — are being used," the caucus said in a statement.

The other side: "If there are beds that are available, they'll stay where they are, but the ultimate goal is resettlement. These are temporary shelters," Johnson said at a press conference last week. "The standard and the expectation is that people can actually live sustainable, fruitful lives in Chicago or anywhere else in America and so choose."

• The mayor's office said in a statement Monday, "City officials briefed the Latino Caucus [Monday] morning, and look forward to continued discussions with external partners to resettle families with dignity and compassion."

Between the lines: Although many feared Texas Gov. Greg Abbott would send a surge of extra migrant buses to the city ahead of the Democratic National Convention, Johnson wouldn't say if he thought President Biden's new stricter border rules would prevent that.

• "It's so disturbing that [Abbott] is unwilling to coordinate with mayors," Johnson said. "If the governor of Texas decides to continue on his diabolical rage, there are limitations to what we are able to do as a city … I wish he had a heart. I don't know. Maybe he needs a visit to the Wizard of Oz."

What's next: After Monday's meeting, Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) was hopeful, telling Axios, "We believe that they are now looking to move in the direction we have been urging them to for some time."

• But " we still need an account of how dollars are being spent to get a better understanding of how the decision to evict people is being continued," he said.