The arrival of immigrants in some American cities is draining local resources and shelters are struggling to cope. Some immigrants in Chicago sleep in police stations without going.
A local councilman told CBS News that about 600 migrants are housed in police stations across the city.
Chicago opened a temporary shelter over the weekend to accommodate busloads of migrants from places like Texas, but it's filling up fast. Brandon Johnson, the newly elected mayor of Chicago, spoke of the urgency of the situation during his inauguration ceremony on Monday. The soul of Chicago tells us that we will never close our doors to those who come here in search of a better life," he said, reaffirming the city's commitment to helping immigrants.
One of his first tasks was to appoint a deputy mayor to oversee immigration and refugee rights.
In Chicago's Pilsen, a predominantly Latino community, residents took matters into their own hands by setting up a shelter. Local leaders, volunteers and homeowner Doug Wynne worked together to transform the untenanted building, providing essential amenities like showers and haircuts. “I think there was a reason we didn't rent it for the last two years. I mean, it's got to have another purpose, right?" Wynne said. "It's a lot better."
Wendy Benitez and her 1-year-old son, Andrew, arrived in Chicago after boarding a bus arranged by the Texas government. Another Wendy, Wendy Rondon, shared her frustration after learning that the shelter situation in Chicago did not meet her expectations, causing her family to spend three nights on the floor of a police station. Rondon's 12-year-old son Brian described their journey as a mix of ups and downs.
"The downside is they had to be on the street, sleep on the street, cross the jungle," Brian Rondon said. "Mom says it's good we did it."
Chicago officials proposed using a former school on the South Side to provide a temporary shelter. However, some residents filed lawsuits, expressing concern about the strain on community resources and questioning the decision-making process.
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