The state of Illinois and Cook County have announced plans to allocate up to an additional $252 million to provide housing, meals and other services for undocumented immigrants arriving in Chicago this year, but Chicago’s progressive Mayor Brandon Johnson appears to be holding back on further funding, at least for now, facing an ongoing crisis.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has pledged about $182 million, and Cook County Board of Commissioners Chairman Toni Preckwinkle said migrants being sent to Chicago from border detention facilities in Texas will receive wraparound services and medical care. It has committed up to an additional $70 million to a joint funding plan to help make this happen.
This is in addition to the state’s $160 million pledge in November for the “welcome, protection and independence” of undocumented immigrants. This effort is in addition to the $478 million the state has spent since the beginning of the response, according to a press release.
Migrants just arrived at a temporary shelter run by the city of Chicago at O’Hare International Airport on August 31, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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More than 35,000 immigrants have been deported to Chicago and its suburbs in the past year and a half. Despite this influx, recent data from the city shows the number of migrants staying in shelters is decreasing, with numbers dropping to their lowest levels in months, according to Fox 32 Chicago .
As of Tuesday, the number of migrants in shelters was below 13,000, down from a peak of nearly 15,000 in mid-to-early January.
“As thousands of asylum seekers continue to come to Chicago in desperate need of assistance, and as Congress continues to refuse to act, we need states, counties, and cities to help keep people safe,” Pritzker said. It’s clear we have to do more,” Pritzker said. statement. “We thank President Preckwinkle for working with us to close this budget shortfall and maintain critical services over the coming year.”
The state’s funding proposal will be part of the Governor’s upcoming 2025 budget proposal to the General Assembly.
Meanwhile, Cook County, located in the upper northeastern part of Illinois and the most populous county in the state, has already spent more than $100 million in new immigration costs, primarily medical costs, in its current fiscal year 2024 budget. Preckwinkle has promised to work with Cook. County commissioners have committed up to an additional $70 million to the joint funding plan.
Mayor Brandon Johnson denounced the redistribution of illegal immigrants from the southern border to Chicago.
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“Cook County remains committed to the well-being of our communities as critical funding for the ongoing humanitarian crisis stalls in Congress,” Preckwinkle said. “We cannot wait for additional funding and Cook County is working with Governor Pritzker on this joint funding plan to ensure shelter capacity, health care, and comprehensive services continue to be available to those in need. I’m proud to do it.”
Based on 2020 Census numbers, Cook County has a population of approximately 5.2 million people, making it the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. Illinois has a population of approximately 13 million people.
The county, through its medical and hospital system, Health care providers for new immigrants We have served more than 25,000 patients and provided approximately 70,000 visits across the health system. Visits include comprehensive health exams and care, including well-being exams, testing, laboratory services, standard immunizations, school health exams, childhood vaccines, behavioral health testing and counseling, care coordination, and prescription medications. included. The county will also provide follow-up care if needed.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) conference at the Hilton Midtown in New York City on September 19, 2023. (John Nation/Wire Image)
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The joint funding announcement comes on top of previously committed funds from a state, county and city team that estimated approximately $321 million would be needed to maintain shelters and services this calendar year. It was done later.
That would mean about $70 million would be allocated by the city of Chicago and Mayor Johnson. “There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved,” he told reporters Thursday after the announcement, according to NBC Chicago.
Johnson said Pritzker promised $65 million late last year to winterize the encampment, but the state was unable to deliver on that. He said the city of Chicago is responsible for providing emergency temporary shelter.
“Remember when the state promised to add 2,000 beds in November? Do you remember?”
