Chicago prepares for Texas to send thousands of migrants ahead of DNC

Chicago city officials are bracing for the possibility of thousands of migrants being bused to their city before the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August. In the last two years, officials estimate 45,000 migrants have either been bused or flown to Chicago, courtesy of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott , R.

At the Republican National Convention (RNC), Abbott said he will continue sending migrants that cross the U.S. southern border to sanctuary cities.

“When Joe Biden and Kamala Harris refused to even come to Texas and to see the border crisis that they created, I took the border to them,” Abbott said during his RNC speech. “I’ve been busing illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C., and we’ve continued busing migrants to sanctuary cities across the entire country, and those buses will continue to roll until we finally secure our border.”

Chicago’s deputy mayor for immigration, Beatriz Ponce de León, told Axios that the city is bracing for another 20,000-25,000 migrants to arrive before the DNC. The convention is taking place at the United Center from Aug. 19-22.

Recently, there’s been a slowdown of migrant crossings at the U.S. southern border because of President Joe Biden’s executive order, which was signed in June. The order limits the number of migrants who can cross the border and claim asylum. It is currently tied up in the courts and a judge could strike it down, meaning the country could go back to seeing thousands of migrants crossing the border each day.

Ponce de León said she’s not sure how many migrants Abbott would be able to drop off in Chicago but said the city is keeping 5,000 beds open and available in case the number surges. Ponce de León said city leaders are prepared and have a plan in place.

Chicago officials said there are less than 6,000 migrants currently staying in city-run shelters. At the height of migrant busing, Chicago had about 15,000 migrants in 28 shelters across the city. Migrants complained about the facilities overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and a lack of food. There was also a measles outbreak that infected more than 50 migrants staying at Chicago’s Pilsen shelter earlier in 2024.

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