(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Members of the Chicago City Council's Latino Caucus are urging Mayor Lightfoot to declare a state of emergency over the growing number of migrants being sent here by bus from the U.S. southern border.
The group’s chairman tells WBBM Newsradio that another 132 people arrived from Texas Wednesday — bringing the total to about 2,900.
Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) says there's no sign Gov. Greg Abbott is going to stop, so this is a way to get ahead of the situation before it gets any worse.
When asked if declaring an emergency would make Abbott's point about the overwhelming flow of migrants, Villegas said he's not interested in playing politics.
He said a declaration would help the city access federal and state funds. The $5 million the city council is considering in budget talks is not enough to help provide services for migrants, he adds.
Most of the people coming here on buses are Venezuelans who have shared horrific stories about what they have faced in making their way to the U.S.
Villegas says the U.S. immigration system has been broken for decades and he hopes the next congress can fix it.
The 13 Latino Caucus members say an emergency declaration would allow city agencies to set up more centers to offer food, medical care, assessments for settlement options and other services.
Last week New York City Mayor Eric Adams made such a declaration and urged the Biden administration to send aid.
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