Overview

• More than 20,000 asylum-seekers, largely directed by Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have arrived in Chicago since last year, overwhelming city infrastructures such as police stations and airports.
• Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed winterized tents and more shelters to accommodate the migrants, currently sleeping on police station floors, in airport waiting areas and even on the streets.
• Critics, including volunteers, churches, and some aldermen, accuse the city of inefficiency and lack of long-term planning in its handling of the migrant crisis.
• More than 3,000 migrants are living inside airports and police stations waiting for placements; some have resorted to setting up tents in nearby streets and vacant lots due to overcrowding.
• City officials estimate that they will spend approximately $255 million on the migrant crisis in 2023.