Chicago’s Migrant Crisis
A year after the first migrants arrived in Chicago by bus from Texas, the number has swelled to an estimated 14,000 and growing. Providing for the immediate needs of these new arrivals has been a goal and challenge. Have the state and city been able to keep up?
The League of Women Voters of Chicago sought answers from two experts who spoke at its “Chicago in Focus” lecture on September 20 at its partner organization, the Union League Club of Chicago. Alisa Bhachu, executive director of the Chicago Refugee Coalition (CRC), and Johannes Favi, Deputy Director of the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI), believe the government’s help so far, while appreciated, will not resolve resettlement issues without help from the entire community.
Migrant crisis facts:
The majority of Chicago’s new arrivals are asylum-seekers from Venezuela. Asylum is a form of immigration status for people who have come to the United States and are afraid to return to their country of origin. If you are granted asylum, the U.S. government cannot deport you. Last week, President Biden announced that the U.S. will grant temporary legal status to Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S., which will make it easier for them to get jobs.
ICDI provides direct services, clothing, housing, and guidance to help newly-arrived immigrants better navigate life in the U.S. They aim to provide safe, dignified living conditions for individuals who may otherwise be subjected to cruel and traumatizing detention facilities. Mentors provide the new arrivals with accompaniment support to deal with everyday aspects of their lives, including language barriers, culture shock and family separation.
When a refugee family is referred to a resettlement agency, the U.S. government provides baseline cash assistance for a period of ninety days. The CRC steps in during the post-resettlement phase. Through corporate and other partnerships, they take a holistic approach to meeting the full spectrum of refugees’ needs.
The Chicago Mayor’s office signed a $30 million contract with a national company to erect winterized tents for immigrant families. The tents will include beds, bathroom facilities and daily food delivery, among other services. The company will oversee daily activities at these centers.
Watch the full lecture above.
Resources discussed during the lecture:
Visit the Chicago Refugee Coalition (CRC) website.
View the CRC Wishlist.
Visit the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI) website.
View the ICDI Wishlist.
The Chicago in Focus lecture series seeks to highlight and explore the most important issues facing Chicagoans today. LWV Chicago hosts this series in partnership with the Union League Club of Chicago.