Texas to bus 25,000 migrants to Chicago ahead of Democratic convention

Next month, 70,000 people are expected to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill. As it prepares for the event, the city is also preparing for 25,000 migrants to arrive.

According to Block Club Chicago , a top official said this Tuesday that the migrants are expected to arrive via bus.

“Deputy Mayor of Immigration Beatriz Ponce de León told alderpeople Tuesday Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is equipped to welcome as many as 25,000 migrants if busing intensifies ahead of the convention, as Republican governors look to embarrass Democratic leaders when the national spotlight turns to Chicago,” said the outlet.

During the Republican National Convention earlier this month, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas said: “We have continued busing migrants to sanctuary cities across the entire country, and those buses will continue to roll until we finally secure our border,” per Axios . Abbott has been sending migrants from Texas to other cities via bus since summer 2022.

As of July 19 , Texas had transported nearly 120,000 migrants to six cities: Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; New York City, N.Y.; Philadelphia, Pa. ; Washington D.C. Most have been sent to New York (45,900) and Chicago (36,900).

Other Republican leaders have also bussed out migrants to Democrat-led cities and the city of Chicago estimates that more than 41,000 new arrivals had been welcomed at its migrant landing zone by early May.

“Through our partnership with the State of Illinois, more than 23,000 new arrivals have been resettled in the area or reunited with sponsors or family,” Chicago said in a May 13 press release . “Chicago’s temporary emergency shelter system for new arrivals currently has fewer than 8,000 residents, down more than 50 percent from a peak of nearly 16,000 in December 2023.”

Block Club Chicago reported that, as of this week, almost 45,000 migrants and 950 buses have been sent to Chicago, citing city data. Overall, there are more than 5,600 residents in 17 active migrant shelters across the city.

Ponce de León said Chicago plans to keep its 60 day limit for staying in the shelters in place as migrants arrive this summer, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“We need that cushion of available beds,” Ponce de León explained. “We need to be prepared for any growing number.”

This limit was first enforced this March, and it has faced criticism.
On the first day, officials estimated 34 migrants would be evicted, but the Office of Emergency Management and Communications said 31 people received extensions. Those who received extensions included four people who were pregnant or had a disability.

“All of this is just smoke and mirrors by this administration to buy more and more time in the hopes that, at some point, post-November, if Joe Biden is re-elected, there will be millions upon millions of dollars in federal help coming to the city to address this,” said Ald. Ray Lopez (15th), as reported by WBBM .

An aide for the mayor told the Sun-Times that up to 10 buses a day could be coming next month as the city prepares for the convention. For months, it looked like incumbent President Joe Biden would the party’s candidate for the upcoming November election, but his announcement that he would drop out of the race has put new pressure on delegates at the convention to select a nominee. Vice President Kamala Harris seems to be the most likely choice at this time.

Chicago city leaders said that Abbott has never communicated about or coordinated arrivals of migrants, Block Club Chicago reported. He has not specified how many busses are expected to arrive in the Windy City ahead of the convention, which is scheduled to be held from Aug. 19 through Aug. 22. CBS News reported that 70,000 delegates, visitors and the media are expected to attend the event.