Chicago mayor discusses possibility of ending 60-day shelter rule amid border crisis

Chicago has extended its 60-day limit until Feb. 1 for individuals staying at city shelters because of the influx of non-citizen arrivals. Some are calling for the end of the limit altogether, however.

Chicago has seen nearly 35,000 non-citizen arrivals over the past year and a half, many of them staying at shelters. Despite the drain on resources, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city will remain a sanctuary city.

The influx has led to increased taxpayer spending and other resources being needed. The taxpayer funds for shelters and services includes a $29 million contract with GardaWorld Federal Services to help put shelters together, but some shelters have fallen through.

The lack of shelter space led the city to enact a 60-day shelter limit rule. After the 60 days are up, migrants would be returned to the landing zone, which is an area where many buses have dropped off migrants.

The 60-day limit for some has now been extended to Feb. 1, which Johnson said is his response to a problem.

"This is an evolving crisis and we have to be nimble and flexible enough to make sure that all of our efforts that we are moving in the right direction and when there is a particular jam, that I do my part to at least respond to that challenge," Johnson said.

Maggie Rivera of the Illinois Migrant Council told The Center Square that the lack of resources in Chicago should be the reason why the limit needs to be done away with, as it is leaving many out on the streets.

"I hope they find that this really isn't going to do anything or fix anything by putting this [limit] in place. I mean, where are people going to go," Rivera said. "I hope they do without it and decide, 'OK, we allowed this to happen; we took them in, so let's continue to do what we set out to do and find them places to live."

Johnson blamed the state for not keeping up with the flow of arrivals.

"One of the reasons why, compassionately, we have provided some exception and some exemption, because again, what the state committed to doing back in November, that process has not moved as quickly as this policy would hold," Johnson said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker ucalled for better communication from Chicago officials.

"I am deeply concerned. We do not have enough shelter as it is in Chicago," Pritzker said Monday. "The city has not told the state where they would like us to put our resources to build or help them build new shelters."

Johnson responded on Wednesday and said they had informed the state of locations.

"The state has received several locations that they can build a shelter at," Johnson said. "Just keep in mind the state of Illinois can build a shelter anywhere in the state of Illinois."

Illinois taxpayers spent over $500 million on migrant care in 2023 alone.