Mayor Johnson plans to visit the Mexican border to witness migrant crisis first-hand

Photo byHumberto ChávezonUnsplash

Many buses filled with asylum seekers have made their way to Chicago this year, almost double than in 2022. What's Mayor Brandon Johnson's solution? Winterized tents in areas where residents have deeply opposed. With more migrants en route to the city, Johnson wants to visit the Mexican border to witness the migrant crisis unfolding.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Mayor, once arranged with his wife and kids, will visit the border to see first-hand what is contributing to the massive migrant issues in the city.

"We need to go assess the situation—just like our team has gone to D.C. We need better coordination, quite frankly," he said. "I recognize what our Southern states are dealing with, so going to see it first-hand makes sense."

Johnson also said that the asylum seekers aren't illegal because they're protected by international law.

Few details about when the visit could happen were shared, but Johnson did express frustration over the number of buses filled with migrants that continue to arrive from states like Texas.

The amount changes consistently and can be anywhere between two to ten a day—sometimes more.

"That's how chaotic it is. They're sending buses in the middle of the night, and so that number continues to change throughout the day."