103 more migrants from Texas arrive in Chicago, third group sent by Gov. Greg Abbott
CHICAGO (CBS) -- For the third time in the past week, a group of migrants from Texas has arrived in Chicago, as Texas Gov. Greg Abbot continues his protest of federal immigration policies.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office confirmed the latest group of 103 migrants arrived at Union Station around 3 p.m. That brings the total number of migrants brought to Chicago from Texas since last Wednesday to 228.
Another group of 50 migrants from Texas arrived in Chicago on Sunday, and the first group of 75 arrived in Chicago last Wednesday.
"In partnership with our colleagues from local community-based organizations, Cook County, and the State of Illinois, we are providing these individuals and families with emergency shelter and connection to needed services. We will continue to live out our values as a welcoming city and respond accordingly," a Lightfoot spokesperson said in an email.
CBS 2's Marybel González talked with some of the migrants Wednesday evening. They said it was a hard journey getting to the U.S. – with some of their loved ones dying along the way.
The migrants were taken to the Salvation Army Freedom Center in Humboldt Park for temporary shelter. For those wishing to help, the city is collecting various essential items they will need, such as hygiene products, baby formula, and more. For details on how to help, visit chicago.gov/support.
The Salvation Army said it is giving the migrants a place to sleep, and connecting them to resources.
"They've got a long, stressful, anxiety-ridden trip up here when they're in a new country; a new city; they don't speak the language - so I'm sure they're a little anxious," said Salvation Army director of communications Brian Duewel, "so we just try and let them relax when they first get here."
After settling into the Salvation Army, some of the migrants will make a stop at the Little Village Community Council – where they will pick up clothing donated by locals and work with Baltazar Enriquez – the organization's president – on getting jobs.
"A lot of them borrow money to get here, so they have pay back that money," he said, "so they need to get a job immediately."
For the newly-arrived migrants who fled their countries with nothing in hand – like Luis, a migrant from Venezuela – the little bit of help from the community council goes a long way.
Luis told us he walked through forests in Colombia for eight days – and along the way, he witnessed people getting robbed, falling ill, and even drowning and dying.
Most of the migrants Chicago has received so far are from Venezuela. As more are expected to follow, the Salvation Army is working to find space for them.
"I guess that's a bridge we will have to cross when we get there, because there's, I guess, only so much space," Deuwel said. "So we're doing our best to keep taking everybody. We don't ever want to turn anybody away."
The migrants are staying at the gym of the Salvation Army Freedom Center shelter. We are told they are sleeping on cots.
The city is working with local organizations to connect the migrants with family or sponsors living in the U.S. who are willing to take them in, pending immigration cases.
Lightfoot's office said they expect more migrants from Texas to arrive in Chicago "on a rolling basis."
In a Twitter post, Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd) lambasted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to task for his treatment of the migrants.
"We are receiving pregnant people, little ones of all ages, people who didn't have any other choice but to escape. They are our siblings and we will extend them the solidarity all humans deserve," she wrote. "@GovAbbott says he's pro-life, but clearly for him there is only some life that is worth protecting. We will be sharing additional donation drop off locations around the city soon. Solidarity saves and community heals."
The Salvation Army also sheltered the migrants who arrived Sunday. Meanwhile, activists have been bringing them food and supplies, but are scrambling to gather more and find donations.
The activists are having a hard time keeping up, as they are not really given a heads-up of when the migrants will arrive in Chicago from Texas – until it has already happened. Enriquez at the Little Village Community Council been on the forefront of gathering donations for the groups of migrants that are being sent to Chicago in protest by Texas Gov. Abbott.
But as more migrants are bused to Chicago, Enriquez said he is having a hard time keeping up with the supplies they need.
"That's really the headache – that we need to quickly ask for these items, and sometimes they don't have them," Enriquez said.
Mayor Lightfoot has said Abbott is not giving the city a heads-up either about migrants headed to Chicago.
"I understand that he has no interest whatsoever in providing any kind of support to people that are coming to Texas," Mayor Lightfoot said Sunday, "but then do the right thing and collaborate and cooperate, instead of us having to guess – are they coming? Are they not coming? How many? What are their needs?"
Meanwhile, the city earlier this week asked for the federal government's help as they brace for more migrants to arrive in Chicago.