Blue city mayor cancels plan for new migrant shelter due to strong opposition.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has recently made the decision to cancel plans to open a new migrant shelter in the city’s South Side, following strong opposition from Ald. Nicole Lee, who represents the area.

Lee, a Democratic alderwoman, had informed her constituents that the administration was considering constructing a new temporary shelter in her ward to replace a downtown shelter before the Democratic National Convention in August. She expressed serious reservations about the location, citing safety concerns, its proximity to train lines and a manufacturing district, and a lack of justification for the proposed move.

During a meeting with Mayor Johnson, Lee made it clear that she was adamantly against establishing the shelter at that particular site. She emphasized the need for proper community engagement processes before any decisions were made regarding the shelter.

In response to the opposition, the Department of Family and Support Services announced that the plan would be scrapped. The city clarified that the site was only under preliminary consideration and that no official site visit had taken place. Due to various assessments and necessary physical improvements that needed to be addressed, the decision to move forward with the location was ultimately abandoned.

City officials also refuted claims that the potential relocation of the migrants had any connection to the upcoming Democratic convention. Meanwhile, Ald. Lee expressed hope that the city would explore alternative locations that would be more suitable for both the migrants and the community residents.

This development is part of a larger ongoing debate in Chicago about the increasing influx of migrants into the city since 2022. Tensions have arisen between politicians and residents, with some expressing outrage over the City Council’s approval of an additional $70 million to address the growing number of new arrivals.

This funding supplement is in addition to the $150 million already allocated for migrant care in the city’s budget. According to Mayor Johnson’s office, Chicago has been receiving over 2,000 migrants per week at its peak, with nearly 40,000 arrivals since August 2022.

The mayor’s office justified the funding request as a means to prepare the city for any sudden surges in new arrivals potentially sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The city’s goal is to provide essential services like food, shelter, medical care, education, vaccines, case management, and resettlement support to incoming migrants.