The Real Implications of Failed Immigration Policy Affecting Chicago Neighborhoods
Exacerbated by presidential year politics and a newly minted mayoral administration in Chicago that is still struggling to find its footing, the current immigration crisis experienced in Illinois vividly illustrates its sharp, biting effectiveness as a top-tier wedge issue.
Just a few short years ago, immigration was a topic that most Americans could discuss with a certain level of detachment, as many did not feel they were directly impacted. Fast forward and not only is immigration a key issue for voters across the country, it has many lifelong Democrats for the first time demanding immediate reforms.
The relocation of at least 35,000 migrants from Texas has brought the immigration crisis to Chicago's doorstep, with many being literally dropped into chronically neglected Black communities filled with Democrats that have been begging for years for just a fraction of the resources that other neighborhoods take for granted. These same voters are watching with seething indignation as the City diverts resources --- such as $95 million in federal COVID relief funds --- from communities that are always told that the City doesn't have any money. Not surprisingly, the city, state and federal government's actions have many residents questioning exactly where they rate in the Democratic Party's priorities.
In a small enclave on the west side of Chicago, picturesque single-family homes with well-manicured lawns make up the Galewood neighborhood. Thirty-six years ago, Thomas Simmons, a retired Deputy Commissioner for the City of Chicago General Services chose Galewood because of its beauty, cleanliness and feeling of community.
As one of the first African-Americans to move onto his street, he immediately got engaged. Years ago, when he saw the community slipping because of incidents involving alcohol establishments, he helped get the necessary petition signatures that ultimately resulted in the successful passage of a referendum to end liquor licenses in a designated area. He said, "I feel that when you buy a home, you should be able to live there comfortably for as long as you want to."
A cornerstone of the neighborhood is the Amundsen Park Field House. Part of the Chicago Park District system, this park offers activities to about 50 seniors and 100 or more children. There, seniors can enjoy line dancing, quilting and a workout room. There are after-school activities, football and cheerleading for all children who wish to participate. Hundreds come out to support the games. The park has been supported for decades by the Amundsen Park Council, a strong group of residents that meet to hear the community's concerns and to ensure the Park is running well. They have goals to bring organized baseball back and technology courses.
When the Council (where Simmons serves as Vice President) began to hear rumors in 2023 that the City planned to close Amundsen Park to the hundreds of patrons currently using it in order to house new migrant arrivals, the Council immediately deployed the same tactics they used to make their community dry; they went door to door handing out flyers, mobilizing the community to make their voices heard. What took place next was nothing short of a movement, evidenced by an initial rally attended by almost 500 people.
According to Simmons, the first meeting was eye opening. "For a couple of hours, city staffers tried to tell us why this was a good idea, but when they began speaking they were shouted down,” Simmons said. "We basically told them, 'We don't want to hear that. You can't just come in here and take something we built.'"
The City doubled down by locking the patrons out of the park. Seniors and children were told to relocate to other parks, which was not a feasible alternative for those without the financial means to commute.
"Parents who rely on us to deliver safe activities and supervision for their children, couldn't send them to the after-school program. Seniors couldn't reach their regular activities".
Adding more insult to injury, the park, which needed infrastructure improvements for years, suddenly received plumbing and other work in preparation for the arrival of migrants.
Simmons continued: "Why take the park away from the taxpayers who are fully utilizing it? Do they hear us? We've been asking for years for simple things like help getting the urinals fixed, but you fix it up for migrants who don't pay taxes? How is that fair? We weren't going to let that happen."
The Council rallied for weeks in large numbers, applying pressure until the City finally backed down and reopened Amundsen to the community. Simmons credits their win to the hard work of the entire Council under the leadership of its President, Donald Glover, but resents having to engage in this battle in the first place. "The optics of the situation are terrible. It's not like this was an empty building. The City showed the world that they were willing to take something away from the Black community and give it to people who haven't been here for two minutes."
How did we get here? In December of 2023 alone, U.S. Border Patrol agents took almost 250,000 migrants into custody who crossed the southern border illegally, with another 50,000 being admitted legally.
Two years ago, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott employed a strategy called Operation Lonestar, using planes and buses to transport migrants to cities across the country, mostly run by Democratic leadership.
When he added Chicago to the route, Abbott pointedly jabbed at then-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot: "Mayor Lightfoot loves to tout the responsibility of her city to welcome all regardless of legal status, and I look forward to seeing this responsibility in action as these migrants receive resources from a sanctuary city with the capacity to serve them." Through methods that have been called cruel and inhumane, to date Operation Lonestar has relocated over 100,000 migrants across the country, bringing the infrastructure of each welcoming city to its knees. Citizens see no clear path to immigration reform as current Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson seeks more funding from Governor J.B. Pritzker, Governor Pritzker seeks more funding from President Joe Biden, President Biden looks to the Republican-led Congress to pass reforms and the Republican-led Congress consults with former President Trump on whether to advance a bipartisan immigration-Ukraine aid package or allow the situation to fester further through the November election.
There is no question that immigration policy is made at the federal level. However, immigration becomes an intensely local concern when tax dollars are shifted from struggling Chicagoans to house, clothe, feed and assist newly arriving migrants who have been transported here involuntarily. With neighboring suburbs declining to accept new arrivals altogether or facing severe capacity limitations with their own respective human service infrastructure, diverting these individuals and their families to Chicago this year could result in the number of migrants in Chicago easily surpassing 50,000 people -- which is the approximate population of an entire city ward in Chicago.
So far, setting a cap on new migrant arrivals in Chicago or imposing other limitations has not been put forward as a policy option. The debate thus far has been focused far more on funding levels and finger-pointing.
How Chicago and its smaller peer communities address this massive infusion of new migrants arriving daily will definitely impact how Simmons votes in November. "I don't think Trump is going to do anything for my community, but do you really want all of our money to go to people living here for years legally or illegally?” He added: "This is going to be a tough one but I'm going to sit down and have to think this one through. As for now, I'm on the fence."
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