Chicago has recently been grappling with the eviction of migrants from city and state-operated shelters. These are just the latest challenges migrants are facing. This situation raises serious questions about the future of these individuals and the city’s capacity to handle this crisis.
In an attempt to control the influx of migrants, City officials introduced a policy limiting shelter stays to 60 days. After this period, migrants are required to find other housing or apply for another shelter at the city’s “landing zone” for new arrivals. This policy was enforced after several delays, including bad weather and staffing issues, and the city began evicting migrants from shelters in March. Officials estimate that 2,026 migrants will be evicted from shelters by the end of April.
Migrants have been coming to Chicago since August 2022 as part of a busing strategy initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Chicago, along with New York City and Denver, has struggled to meet the demand for housing and social services due to the influx of migrants.
The migrant shelter evictions in Chicago highlight the complexities of managing migration in urban areas. While the city struggles with this issue, the migrants who came in search of a better life now face an uncertain future in the city they hoped to call home.
