Illegal immigration has been on the rise since the Senate Commerce Committee investigated the mayor’s office this year into how much federal resources are being used to keep undocumented immigrants at Chicago’s two major airports. No more camping at airports.
A week after the commission’s letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson in late January, the migrants were quietly removed after months of camping at O’Hare International and Midway airports. Johnson’s office, the airport and the Federal Aviation Administration responded to repeated requests for comment from Fox News Digital about where the migrants would be sent.
“Mayor Johnson’s office continues to withhold important information from Congress and taxpayers regarding the housing of illegal aliens at O’Hare Airport,” Senate Republican Commerce Committee spokeswoman Melissa Blade told Fox News Digital on Thursday night. ” said in a statement.
Senate Commerce Republicans investigate migrant shelter at Chicago airport
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)
“Lawmakers are actively working on aviation safety and funding legislation. The requested information indicates that taxpayer airport infrastructure funds will be used to reduce the cost of sanctuary airports caused by President Biden’s open border crisis. “It will help ensure that it is used for legitimate purposes rather than being diverted to other uses,” she said.
The Chicago Tribune reported last month that Johnson’s office announced there were no more migrants camping at the airport. The removal comes after thousands of immigrants were also removed from Chicago police stations in December.
The report comes as Johnson’s deputy chief of staff, Cristina Pacione Zayas, told reporters that the removals are part of an ongoing effort to quickly place migrants in shelters and housing in other cities. He pointed out that he said. Pacione-Zayas said the $150 million Prime Minister Boris Johnson allocated this year for emergency immigration responses is likely to be used up by April.
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport used as migrant shelter as crisis grips city: ‘Like a scene from Mad Max’
Migrants receive food outside the Immigration Landing Zone in Chicago on January 12, 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
“Every day we have meetings and calls with states and counties to figure out what our long-term plans are to get through the calendar year together,” Pacione-Zayas said.
Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), sent a letter to Johnson about the city’s move to house immigrants at O’Hare International Airport and, more recently, Midway International Airport starting in March 2023.Last year, hundreds of images were published The immigrants camped In a corner of O’Hare. The move comes as the city struggles to cope with an influx of tens of thousands of migrants since mid-2022.
“Diverting airport facilities and infrastructure to house illegal aliens not only undermines taxpayer investment in the nation’s airport system, but also, at least in the case of O’Hare, is a federally funded airport facility. This is against the law because the airports have been withdrawn from public access and use. The letter requires that these federally funded facilities “be made available for public use as airports.” it is written like this.
“No reasonable person would define an airport as a facility for holding illegal aliens,” they wrote.
Illegal immigrants sleep in Boston airport terminal ‘every day’ as crisis overwhelms shelters
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)
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Lawmakers will respond to questions including the number of immigrants held at the airport, the associated costs, the dangers the airport poses, whether it has a federal exemption, and whether they have consulted with the TSA on aviation safety and security issues. I asked for
The committee says it has not received a response from the city.
Mr. Johnson last year touted his administration’s efforts to provide housing, health care and schooling for immigrants arriving in the city, but appealed for additional federal aid to meet continued demand.
He is also asking for nearly $5 billion in aid from the Biden administration.
The commission sent additional letters Wednesday to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Port Authority of Massachusetts asking for more information about protections for immigrants at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport.
FOX News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
