Chicago prepares for ‘upwards of 25,000’ additional migrant arrivals ahead of DNC

CHICAGO — The city’s deputy mayor of immigration said Tuesday that officials are anticipating and preparing for the possibility of a large influx of migrants from the southern border to coincide with the city’s hosting of the Democratic National Convention.

“We have anticipated through discussions with people at the border also what we see happening at the border and comments made by the Texas governor that we would need upwards of 25,000 beds,” Deputy Mayor of Immigration Beatriz Ponce de León told aldermen at a meeting of the city council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at last week’s Republican National Convention told attendees the bussing of people who crossed the southern border to other cities would continue “until we finally secure our border.”

An additional 25,000 people sent to the city would be a large escalation in Abbot’s program. As of Monday, Chicago has welcomed more than 45,000 migrants aboard nearly 950 buses to the city since August 2022 . The City Council in April approved $70 million in funding for shelter and food.

There were 5,667 residents in 17 active shelters run by the city and state on Monday, according to a statement from the city.

Ponce de León said the concern is “all speculation.” Asylum restrictions rolled out by President Biden in June have reduced the number of border crossings, but that number would likely increase if the policy is amended or rescinded by a judge, she warned.

In a statement to WGN, a mayor’s office spokesperson said the city, in partnership with the county and state, has developed a “strategic plan” to accommodate new arrivals.

“The city is maintaining sufficient bed capacity in our existing temporary shelters and preparing sites in the event that new temporary emergency shelters need to be activated on short notice,” the statement said.

The Democratic National Convention begins Aug. 19.

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