Mayor who originally welcomed migrants with open arms saying Chicago had room for all, now calls on Governor to build shelters in cities other than Chicago
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s persistent appeals to Governor J.B. Pritzker for increased migrant shelters took a new direction, calling for additional sites outside Chicago, even with state funding. This shift in strategy emerged during a press briefing following the City Council meeting, where the mayor refrained from addressing the impending fate of migrants facing a February 1 deadline to vacate city-run shelters, all while severe winter conditions persist.
Instead of directly responding to questions about the fate of migrants, Mayor Johnson redirected attention to the state, emphasizing the need for them to construct additional shelters, advocating for their placement beyond Chicago’s borders.
In November, the state committed to a comprehensive plan, including 2,200 beds, but progress has been slower than the 60-day eviction policy dictates. Governor Pritzker criticized the lack of specific locations provided by the Johnson administration for new shelters, hindering the allocation of state resources.