Lollapalooza Weekend
Just as Lollapalooza arrives, the city made a decision to move immigrants from city campuses and police stations into shelters.
Many immigrants are being moved into shelters on the Northside Lakefront. After many days and nights of staying in temporary city campuses over the summer, the fall semester is near and schools are preparing. A new location is needed for immigrants to stay.
Moving Migrants
In addition, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, about 550 immigrants have been staying at Daley College located on the South Side. They have been living at Wilbur Wright College as well. But they moved to the American Islamic College, which is located on the 600 block of West Irving Park Road.
Furthermore, more than 100 immigrants were living at the 1st District police station in the South Loop. About two miles from Grant Park, and they have been moved to the Broadway Armory Park Fieldhouse in Edgewater. The OEMC says that the decision was moved and received community pushback from some residents.
Office of Emergency Management and Communications Speaks Out
The OEMC says that the goal of moving the migrants is a city decision, transitioning people from police stations to shelters. However, a volunteer mentioned the OEMC talked about moving during the NASCAR event.
Transferring migrants has been part of the OEMC plan beforehand, according to the spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson. Also says it’s not related to the influx of people headed to Grant Park for Lollapalooza.
Before the immigrants were moved from the South Side Loop police stations to the North Side shelter, almost 1,000 were staying at police district stations throughout the city. About 5,500 were in city shelters.
Allegations and Limited Resources
Shelters and welcome centers have cropped up throughout the summer, but are running out of resources and struggling to meet demand.
Allegations of sexual misconduct involving immigrants have surfaced against police officers, including one who allegedly impregnated a teenage girl who immigrated to Chicago. This drew criticism from local activists who held the Office of Police accountable to investigate.
Migrants are being moved once again as activists and the city work to keep migrants housed and safe with limited resources.
Migrants Speak Out on Shelters
Two of the many immigrants that moved to American Islamic College say they like the new shelter. Josimar Goyo, 26, and Brayan Hernandez, 20 say they are able to have more privacy than before. Their relatives traveled from Venezuela. Previously, they were sheltered at Wilbur Wright College.
However, many families didn’t have the luxury of privacy at the last shelter. There were full families piled together in rooms.
One of the immigrants moving into the new shelter, Onomi, shared her thoughts on the transition to the new place. She’s a Venezuelan native and has moved three times since being in Chicago. From the O’Hare International Airport to the police station, and now transiting into the North Side Fieldhouse. She says she and her daughter were not able to get consent for showers and hot food. Also, she says she’ll most likely have a lack of sleep at the new shelter.
Throwing Away Resources
A video of the South Loop Police Station throwing away mattresses and many other donations.
However, 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez made a tweet explaining that many of the resources were expired, including the mattresses. As the video circulated, people said it was insensitive of them to throw it away.
In addition to this, Juan-Antonio Montesinos, a volunteer, says it was expected. He continues to say that the city had to do it due to there being too much. He has been a volunteer since March and says people would drop off so many donations. Though the intention is to help with resources, it would be more helpful if things were more coordinated with the volunteer.
Lastly, he mentions that volunteers opened a “free store” in Bridgeport where immigrants could come and choose donated items to take home with them.
To donate call (773)254-6677.
Written by Iyanna Stanton
Sources:
NBC 5 Chicago: Hundreds of migrants moved from temporary shelters, South Loop police station ahead of Lollapalooza
Chicago Sun-Times: Hundreds of migrants moved from temporary shelters, South Loop police station ahead of Lollapalooza
Block Club Chicago: Migrants Moved Out Of South Loop Police Station As Lollapalooza Looms
Inset Image Courtesy of – EMR – Flickr page – Creative Commons License
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Kenneth Spencer Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
