Chicago officials say 81 more migrants arrived in town on a bus from Texas during the day Wednesday.
City officials say more than 1,500 total migrants have arrived in recent weeks from Texas with more expected Wednesday evening.
The buses come courtesy of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been sending the migrants to major cities for months in a political dispute over immigration laws. Many are arriving with no possessions, often miles away from their intended destination.
Isaias Solis, senior director of programs at Erie Neighborhood House, says Chicago organizations have been stepping up to meet the needs of migrant arrivals.
“Many of our community organizations right now are in the process of providing those direct services and also coordinating with the city and IDHS and the state to make sure that our migrants have all of the resources and services that they need,” Solis said.
“People are arriving with very few personal possessions,” said Alejandra Oliva, community engagement manager at National Immigrant Justice Center.
In response, organizations are providing clothing, toiletries and other necessities.
The majority of the migrants are coming from Venezuela.
Johannes Favi, Chicago immigrant transit assistance director at Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants, says that many people are escaping gang violence and even natural disasters in their countries.
“The population will kind of switch depending on what’s happening in the countries,” Favi said.