A Message from Mayor Shapiro

On behalf of the Village Board, I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2024.

Several residents have contacted me about how we can compassionately address the recent influx of migrants and asylum seekers to the Chicagoland area. I appreciate everyone in the community who has reached out with care and concern.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has determined that the role of local governments in assisting migrants is to get them safely to the City of Chicago Intake Center. In this regard, our primary responsibility is to connect individuals who may need assistance with resources that can help them at the designated location in Chicago. We have not yet seen any buses arrive in the Village. In such an event, we will treat migrants with the same dignity and compassion as we would treat other visitors to our community. Staff and I have been meeting regularly to develop a protocol so that we can be as prepared as possible to assist migrants and/or asylum seekers who may be in need. In doing so, we have reached out to the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus, Lake County Office of Emergency Management, Cook County Office of Emergency Management, City of Chicago, PADS of Lake County, transportation companies and others to respond as humanely and safely as possible.

Like many of our ancestors did years ago, thousands of families are migrating to the United States to seek a better life. Most are coming from Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, fleeing socioeconomic hardships and unsafe conditions. Natural disasters and poor governance are the most important drivers of the flow of migrants and asylum seekers. Due to these reasons, border crossings have surged in Texas, resulting in Texas Governor Abbott relocating migrants to other cities, including Chicago, Denver and New York.

The City of Chicago has adopted regulations for the buses transporting migrants that include prior notification of time and place of arrival. When a driver does not comply with these rules, to avoid the associated fines and punishments, they drop off their passengers at a suburban location, often without notice to that community. We have seen this happen in suburbs throughout the Chicagoland region, including some in Lake County. On most occasions, the buses can be redirected to the designated location in Chicago. On others, migrants are provided a Metra ticket as another means of transportation to Chicago. In some cases, those on the bus, have been dropped off at random locations without notice, winter clothes and means of immediately making it to the Intake Center in Chicago. In such cases, local organizations and communities have provided shelter and food on a temporary basis until a better solution is found. 

We are closely monitoring where and when buses are dropping off migrants and asylum seekers in nearby communities and are keenly aware of some of the challenges we may face if and when they arrive to the Village. In this regard, the Village Board will consider at its January 16 meeting an ordinance that will address reasonable regulations to ensure that buses do not leave people unannounced, overnight or abandoned in the cold. It will address how we can plan and care for those who may seek help in our Village. 

In this ever-evolving situation, we continue to closely watch both local and national events, consult with our local partners, law enforcement and our neighbors as how we will best be able to respond to the needs of those who may soon be arriving while at the same time maintain the safety and security of our Village. 

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