Mayors hopes to coordinate response to migrants from Texas

Suburban mayors Monday referred to as for higher communication and coordination with Chicago and state governments after being shocked by busloads of migrants being despatched to their towns–and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pledged to work with the mayors.

Two CTA buses carrying about 90 migrants arrived Saturday at a Hampton Inn in Elk Grove Village,the most recent group of asylum-seekers despatched to the world by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as a solution to criticize the nation’s immigration insurance policies.

After being notified Friday afternoon that the buses have been coming, Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson stated he had many questions on whether or not they’d had well being and security checks, questions that federal immigration officers ultimately answered satisfactorily.

Johnson stated he had a cordial dialog with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday, who, he stated, apologized however stated the state was overseeing the method. Johnson referred to as for the state and metropolis to work with suburban mayors to rearrange an orderly transition for brand spanking new arrivals.

“They’re upset with Texas, then you definately’re turning round and doing the very same factor to me, sending these folks with out notifying us,” Johnson stated. “Let’s work collectively on this.”

He stated dozens of vehicles have been ready on the resort, together with some from out of state, apparently with pals or family members who’d recognized the immigrants have been coming.

Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso went additional, saying it was “hypocritical” of Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to criticize Abbott for transport Venezuelan immigrants to Chicago, solely to have them despatched to Burr Ridge and Elk Grove Village with little or no discover.

Grasso stated Lightfoot referred to as him Sunday to say he ought to have been given discover of the arrivals to a resort in Burr Ridge on Wednesday. However Grasso stated Chicago nonetheless bore accountability because the sanctuary metropolis the place the folks arrived.

Initially, the governor’s workplace issued an announcement in response to Grasso, saying that “xenophobia has no residence right here.”

At a information convention Monday, Pritzker defined that the state had little or no discover from Texas, and needed to nearly instantly discover shelter, meals and medical take care of the arrivals. The resorts have been chosen, he stated, just because they’d vacancies and have been capable of organize lodging rapidly.

“We give discover as quick as we will,” he stated.

“The governor of Texas must cease sowing chaos and must work with states” he stated. Pritzker stated the immigrants additionally should be transported willingly, “as a result of in any other case it’s kidnapping.”

Abbott despatched the immigrants, with extra anticipated to come back, to sanctuary cities, together with Washington, D.C., and New York Metropolis, to protest federal insurance policies permitting giant numbers of immigrants coming into Texas.

Lightfoot’s workplace issued an announcement that the town continues to work carefully with the county, state, and federal companions to welcome the migrants that Texas is “inhumanely transporting.”

“As Mayor Lightfoot has stated, we’ll work with Mayors throughout the metro space to keep up an open line of communication to supply ample care and deal with new arrivals with the dignity they deserve.”

The Illinois Division of Human Companies issued an announcement that some 300 latest migrants have been being positioned in city and suburban resorts, in some instances the place earlier refugees, corresponding to these from Afghanistan, had been positioned.

“We’ll proceed taking motion to make sure everybody in Illinois has entry to shelter, meals, well being care and different primary, important helps,” in keeping with the assertion. “We anticipate that the state of Texas will proceed to bus migrants to Illinois, and we stay dedicated to serving to welcome new arrivals in a accountable, orderly and compassionate manner.”

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com