Chicago Prepares for at Least 10k More Migrants Prior to DNC as Abott Vows to Continue Busing

Chicago officials brace for migrant surge in next several weeks as city ramps up for Democratic National Convention

Photo byFineas AntononUnsplash

CHICAGO - As the Democratic National Convention approaches, Chicago officials are preparing for a potential influx of up to 10,000 more migrants, following Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s commitment to continue sending buses of migrants to the city. This anticipated surge comes at a critical time when the city is preparing to host a major political event, putting Chicago in the national spotlight.

Beatriz Ponce de León, Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights, addressed the City Council’s Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee, stating that the city is "hyper prepared" for the arrival of buses carrying migrants who have crossed the southern border, requested asylum, and have permission to remain in the United States while their cases are processed.

“We have continued busing migrants to sanctuary cities all across the country,” Abbott declared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17. “Those buses will continue to roll until we finally secure our border.”

During the peak of the migrant crisis in the summer of 2023, Chicago saw approximately 2,000 people arriving weekly from Texas. This renewed threat from Abbott has led Chicago officials to reassess their plans to accommodate the potential arrival of thousands of new migrants, according to Brande Knazze, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services.

The city's migrant shelter system currently has fewer than 5,000 available beds. Annette Guzman, Chicago’s Budget Director, highlighted the financial strain that a new surge of migrants would impose on the city’s budget. “Those costs have not been budgeted for,” Guzman explained, presenting data that estimated the cost of operating a 15,000-bed migrant shelter system through the end of 2024 at $422.3 million. Should every bed be filled, the city could face a budget shortfall of $54.7 million by the end of the year.

From January 1 to June 30 of this year, the city spent $184.8 million on migrant care. In June alone, the daily cost of caring for 5,500 migrants in 15 shelters was $677,310, a significant decrease from December’s daily expenditure of $1.4 million for nearly 15,000 people in 27 shelters. Initial projections had anticipated a cost of approximately $250 million for the first six months of the year.

However, the city’s shelter population has declined faster than expected, with fewer than 5,700 individuals residing in 17 facilities as of Tuesday—a 10% drop in the past month and a 60% decrease since January 22. Despite this, the total number of migrants in Chicago has increased by 30% since January 22 to over 45,000 people. The rate of new arrivals has slowed recently, rising just 3% since June 22.

City officials have long warned that Governor Abbott would continue sending buses of migrants to Chicago, particularly to create disruption in the lead-up to the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 19-22. While a significant surge has not yet materialized, the city remains on high alert, especially with the seasonal increase in asylum seekers crossing the southern border.

A new policy implemented by President Joe Biden has reportedly reduced the number of migrants entering the country after requesting asylum by 32% through the end of June, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Alderman Andre Vasquez, representing the 40th Ward, anticipated that the recent City Council hearing would focus on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s policy of a 60-day limit on shelter stays for most migrants, a policy Vasquez has called to be reversed. Knazze and Ponce de León assured that the policy would be revisited after the convention, emphasizing the need for stability until then.

Since March, approximately 65% of the over 1,500 migrants evicted from city shelters had no alternative housing and continued to rely on city facilities. Evicted migrants can return to a designated “landing zone” for buses from Texas in the West Loop and reapply for shelter.

Since early June, nearly 300 individuals from families with school-age children have been evicted, with approximately 250 immediately returning to city shelters. Single men and women typically spent an average of 118 days in city shelters, while families averaged 154 days.

As the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools approaches on August 26, it remains uncertain whether the city will continue to enforce the 60-day limit on shelter stays for families.