Residents of Chicago’s South Shore have spoken out against the arrangement to bring hundreds of illegal immigrants to the area, arguing that the use of schools as temporary shelters without consultation is a disguised removal of local residents from housing waiting lists.
The local former South Bank High School will be used by the government as a temporary shelter for up to 500 illegal immigrants. The government did not explain how long it will be used.
Local residents have filed a lawsuit against the government. In the 2020 general election, 97% of the residents in the district voted for the Democratic candidate Biden . Now, many of them are strongly protesting the influx of illegal immigrants after the end of Title 42.
Residents have been particularly dissatisfied with plans to house migrants in schools, fearing safety concerns. They say the school is not zoned for residential use and the government has not consulted residents about the plan.
At a news conference on Thursday (May 11), a woman accused the government of overcompensating illegal immigrants and said that long-term local residents should “be taken care of first.”
“Why are officials putting our already crime-ridden black communities at further risk by keeping unvetted non-taxpayers (illegal immigrants) away from the very elderly, children and homes we work so hard to protect?” another asked one angry resident at a news conference.
Earlier this month, residents packed an auditorium to blame local officials.
“How could you do this without consulting us?” asked one resident.
Another resident responded: “Build the wall and secure the border.”
Some residents said that politically speaking, the sudden influx of more than 500 (illegal immigrants) in the community will completely obliterate any interests of local residents. There have been complaints that illegal immigrants are being pushed off housing waiting lists because they are prioritized for housing.
The officials’ defense was drowned out by boos from the crowd. “It’s important that we make sure this is a real humanitarian crisis and it’s all around us,” said city hall official Nubia Willman.
The lawsuit comes days after Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared a state of emergency for illegal immigrants arriving in Chicago. Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson (Brandon Johnson) will take office next Monday (15th).
Natasha Dunn, one of the plaintiffs, said at a news conference Thursday that members of the black community, South Shore voters and stakeholders are very frustrated with the city of Chicago’s inability to control and set the safety parameters for illegal immigration brought in from the border.
Attorney Frank Avila said that he hoped that refugees, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants would not be concentrated in one community.
“If we’re talking about (illegal) immigrants and asylum seekers from violent countries, wars, poverty, why are we putting them in a place where they could be further harmed?” he said.
Since August, more than 8,000 illegal immigrants have busted north into Chicago from the border. Immigrants have filled police station lobbies in recent weeks, arriving faster than the city can open shelters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n