Chicago plans to close five shelters for migrants in the coming weeks, relocating nearly 800 people, including families, to reopen park district buildings for summer camps and community events. This move is part of the city's efforts to accommodate the needs of individuals arriving from the U.S. border with Mexico.
Mayor Johnson announced the plan to close the park district shelters, stating they are "no longer necessary." He commended the efforts of his administration, partners, and Chicagoans for welcoming new arrivals by providing shelter in Park District field houses when it was needed.
Since 2022, Chicago has seen over 37,000 migrants arrive in the city, many from Venezuela, where a crisis has pushed millions into poverty. The city initially used police stations and airports as shelters before utilizing park district fieldhouses, which faced protests from surrounding neighborhoods.
Currently, over 10,000 people remain in city-run shelters, down from nearly 15,000 in January. The city has not specified when all park buildings will be empty, only that it will take several weeks. Volunteers working with migrants said residents of at least two park buildings were informed they would begin moving to other shelters.
While nearly 20 other temporary shelters are still operational in the city, housing more than 1,000 people, the city aims to relocate individuals closer to the park buildings, particularly families with children enrolled in nearby schools.
Chicago began enforcing a 60-day limit on shelter stays in mid-March, but few people have been evicted yet due to exemptions, including for families with school children. The city has reported only 24 people leaving shelters because of the caps.
Volunteers express concern that the forced move will disrupt migrants' efforts to find work and get their children to school. Despite the challenges, over 15,000 people have found other housing since 2022, many through rental assistance programs.
Asylum seekers in the U.S. immigration court system must notify officials of address changes within five days to ensure they receive court notifications. Failure to do so could lead to deportation.