The conflict between Chicago city authorities and residents over the issue of accepting illegal immigrants from Central and South America eventually escalated into a legal battle. According to Chicago media on the 27th, the first trial of a lawsuit filed by South Chicago residents opposing the Chicago city government’s plan to create a temporary detention centre for illegal immigrants began on this day.
Natasha Dunn and Jimmy Darrell Jones, who filed the complaint as representative of residents, told the Cook County court that “Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (47, Democratic) and city authorities are holding illegal immigrants in parks, police stations, public schools, and so-called ‘tent camps.’ “Please stop it,” he asked.
In their complaint, they said, “South Shore High School, which had been a major educational institution and a symbol of pride in the community for decades, was reduced to a ‘refugee centre’ without even listening to residents’ opinions,” and “the city authorities violated zoning laws.” “It violated the law and undermined the integrity and stability of the community.”
Chicago ABC reported that protests by residents have continued for several weeks in Brighton Park, the planned site for the construction of ‘winterized base camps’ for illegal immigrants transported from the southern border of the United States, but construction materials have recently been arriving at the site one after another.
One resident who did not want his name published said, “I want to hear the truth from the mayor,” and asked, “Shouldn’t the mayor put the residents first?” Residents claimed, “The construction site of Brighton Park was originally where a factory was located, and soil tests showed that it was contaminated with toxic metals,” and “It is an unsuitable place for people to live.” He also emphasized, “City officials do not want to cause chaos in our community.”
Residents are demanding that Mayor Brandon stop violating the land use designation law and disclose without hesitation how much money he is actually spending to support immigrants accepted under the slogan of a ‘sanctuary city.’
Since August of last year, about 20,000 illegal immigrants from Central and South America have been transported to Chicago, and about 2,000 of them are still living in the city police station and airport lobby.
City authorities said the winter base camp to be built in Brighton Park could accommodate up to 2,000 people.