Chicago's migrant crisis cost millions, created division in mayor's first year
If more migrants are bussed to Chicago during this summer's DNC, the city says it already has space ready to handle a new influx.
Watch CBS News
If more migrants are bussed to Chicago during this summer's DNC, the city says it already has space ready to handle a new influx.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been criticized for his response to the migrant crisis. The mission has cost millions of dollars and caused division in the City Council over whether or not the city should remain a sanctuary city. But it appears Chicago's migrant crisis won't be over anytime soon.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been criticized for his response to the migrant crisis. The mission has cost millions of dollars and caused division in the City Council over whether or not the city should remain a sanctuary city. But it appears Chicago's migrant crisis won't be over anytime soon.
Chicago has seen a steady decline in the number of migrants living in temporary shelters in 2024, with the city's shelter population cut nearly in half since January.
City officials confirmed the shelter at the former Wadsworth Elementary School at 6420 S. University Av. had been "decompressed," and all of the migrants living there had been transferred to other city shelters.
The mayor's office plans to possibly relocate hundreds of new arrivals to Chicago's South Side ahead of the Democratic National Convention, despite strong opposition from neighbors and the alderwoman of the ward.
Since Dec. 31, 62 buses carrying nearly 2,500 migrants from Texas have arrived in Wilmette.
Over the past 30 days, the number of unscheduled buses increased to seven per week, with some happening in the middle of the night, according to officials.
The council also approved $48 million in grant money from the state and federal government, much of which will be used to pay outstanding debt the city owes for staffing and shelter costs.
The city already has budgeted $150 million to care for migrants this year, but the mayor's office has acknowledged that won't be enough for the entire year.
The change would move money away from the Kansas-based healthcare staffing firm and aim to create a unified housing system.
Chicago officials hope to change the way migrant shelters are run in an attempt to save some taxpayer dollars, but also to keep more of the money they are spending on the crisis in the city.
Some members asked why this may be taken from the city's rainy day fund and questioned whether they should spend more on the mission at all.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's request for an additional $70 million to support asylum seekers was before a City Council committee on Monday. The city's Budget and Government Operations Committee approved the funding 20-8.
Hundreds of migrants were moved out of the shelters at Gage Park and Brands Park over the weekend.
Hundreds of migrants were moved out of shelters at two more Chicago Park District facilities over the weekend, and city officials said all shelters that had been operating at park facilities have now been closed.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is asking the City Council for an additional $70 million to support asylum seekers. A council committee was debating Monday whether they would approve the funding.
The mayor's office has been briefing alderpeople this week on the request, which will be presented to the City Council Budget Committee on Monday.
The pastor arranged for the family of 13 to stay in a church member's basement, but the city said it violated local ordinances.
A Northwest Indiana pastor said he was trying to help a migrant family get out of the cold and into a home, but Hammond officials said what he did was dangerous. The pastor told CBS 2 that a member of his church agreed to temporarily house a family of migrants. But this week, Hammond police stepped in and called the living arrangement dangerous and uninhabitable.
A Northwest Indiana pastor said he was trying to help a migrant family get out of the cold and into a home, but Hammond officials said what he did was dangerous.
The Archdiocese of Chicago will lease the former convent and former school building on the St. Bartholomew Church campus to the city for free.
With hundreds of migrants moving out of five Chicago Park District sites in the coming weeks, Mayor Brandon Johnson's office announced Friday that a new migrant family shelter will open at a shuttered Catholic school building and convent in Portage Park.
The mayor joined several local activists in urging the Biden administration to grant work permits to long-term undocumented immigrants, not just newly arrived asylum seekers.
A Kansas-based firm was hired to help care for new arrivals at city shelters with a one-year contract, originally for up to $40 million.
Franklin Park police asked the state police to open the investigation shortly after receiving new information from the Illinois Accountability Commission last week.
A man from the Chicago suburbs lost $69,000 of his savings to a scam by a thief using an AI-generated U.S. Marshals badge to intimidate him.
The Cubs scored two in the ninth on Monday to beat the Reds, who have lost a season-high five in a row.
Andrew David said he noticed the person who stole the tips had passed by minutes earlier with a group of people.
The victim's age and identity were not released as of Tuesday night.
Indiana voters are choosing nominees for the U.S. House under existing district boundaries during Tuesday's primary elections.
A Chicago alderwoman is trying to get a better idea of who is on electronic monitoring in Cook County and how they're being tracked. She also wants to know what efforts are being made to track down those with active arrest warrants.
Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday in Ohio and Indiana — in the Buckeye State, they cast ballots in Senate, House and governor's primary races, while Hoosiers are weighing in on House and state races.
A federal appeals court blocked a FDA rule that allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to be dispensed through the mail.
With 60 field organizers, 15 offices, and high-seven-figure spending planned, Iowa Democrats are making their most aggressive midterm investment in years as they target open seats for governor and U.S. Senate.
Chatham residents say they're losing a vital resource as Walgreen's prepares to close its store near 86th and Cottage Grove.
According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Chicago was $5.17 on Friday, up from $3.75 a year ago.
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Company customers are likely to see minor credits on their bills for the next three years, thanks to a $125 million settlement agreement announced Thursday by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Chicago gas prices are spiking as the war with Iran drags on, with regular gas nearing $6 in some spots and premium already selling for more than $7 in some places.
In the legal venue of anti-trust enforcement, the state is not taking on the Trump administration, but rather filling a void that state officials say the Trump administration has vacated.
The largest U.S. health insurer said it will eliminate approval requirements for some treatments, including select outpatient surgeries and other procedures.
Thirty years ago, Advocate Children's Hospital created a specialized team to transport the smallest patients to get life-saving care. On the anniversary of the Neonatal Pediatric Transport Team, they unveiled some a new ambulance.
The second-largest physicians' group in the U.S. has issued a surprising switch in breast cancer screening recommendations.
A new $48 million wellness center opened Thursday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The goal is to improve the health and quality of life for people on the West Side of Chicago.
La Rabida Children's Hospital went all out for Earth Day on Wednesday, with volunteer cleanup efforts by staffers and activities for patients and families.
Thousands of people marched from the West Loop to Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on Friday for May Day, with activists calling for workers' rights, stronger labor protections, and increased school funding.
A $170 million-plus plan announced this week will redevelop the Water Tower Place mall on the Magnificent Mile.
The Holiday Club in Chicago's Buena Park neighborhood will soon be going out of business, as the building that houses the popular bar is set to be torn down.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Lincolnwood Village Board approved a pre-development agreement with the mall, providing a roadmap with the property owner for further preparations and government approvals for redevelopment.
The only remaining location of Pal Joey's pizzeria in Batavia, Illinois, will soon be going out of business, its owner announced this week.
David Allan Coe also had hits with "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" and "The Ride" among others.
Some youngsters got a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of making opera Sunday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Matt DeCaro, an actor who was a familiar face on the Chicago stage for many years, died this weekend.
Jake was at the funeral for one of his closest friends when he learned of his parents' deaths, he said.
Tickets for the 2026 Ravinia Festival season went on sale Thursday morning.
ISP confirmed they're investigating the death of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, who was shot "at close range" by a federal agent in Franklin Park last September.
Each of the special happy meals comes with a custom box, one of 12 collectible character toys, an activity book, and a QR code to a special game.
Chicago could be the second worst in the country for mosquitoes this summer, according to Orkin’s 2026 mosquito cities list.
Temps will climb out of the 50s and will return to the 70s by the weekend. Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest in First Alert Weather.
The man who shared his story with CBS News Chicago Investigators says he is too embarrassed to reveal his face or use his name, but his son helped explain what happened.
Chicago police said the victims were riding in a vehicle when two gunmen on motorcycles pulled up and shot them.
A man from the Chicago suburbs lost $69,000 of his savings to a scam by a thief using an AI-generated U.S. Marshals badge to intimidate him.
If you want to visit the Museum at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago after it opens on Juneteenth, you can buy your tickets online starting Wednesday morning.
Franklin Park police asked the state police to open the investigation shortly after receiving new information from the Illinois Accountability Commission last week.
A Chicago alderwoman is trying to get a better idea of who is on electronic monitoring in Cook County and how they're being tracked. She also wants to know what efforts are being made to track down those with active arrest warrants.
A man from the Chicago suburbs lost $69,000 of his savings to a scam by a thief using an AI-generated U.S. Marshals badge to intimidate him.
Illinois lawmakers are trying to decide what should happen when artificial intelligence leads to serious destruction or even death, and two of the most influential AI companies in the world are backing opposing state bills trying to answer that question.
Rideshare drivers say it's getting difficult to continue working as gas prices surpass $6 in the city.
More than four months after a Chicago woman battling ALS was told she couldn't get a disabled parking placard in front of her home, the sign is up and her life is about to change.
An elderly woman has essentially abandoned her home of three decades because of constantly broken elevators at her high-rise condo building on the Southwest Side of Chicago.
The Cubs scored two in the ninth on Monday to beat the Reds, who have lost a season-high five in a row.
Cuypers has scored in every match he's played in so far, including two goals in three consecutive games.
Munetaka Murakami hit his 14th homer and Miguel Vargas also went deep as the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-0.
The Cubs trailed 3-0 in the fourth before Suzuki tied it with a three-run drive off Chase Petty, Chicago's longest homer of the season.
Graham previously served as the Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Atlanta Hawks.
A 17-year-old boy has died after police said he was stabbed by another teen over the weekend in southwest suburban Joliet.
Chicago police are investigating a burlgary targeting the video gambling machines at a liquor store in Lincoln Park early Tuesday morning.
Chief Geoff Guttschow, who has an autistic child who drives, says the Blue Envelope Program gives officers a tool to recognize when a driver may need additional communication support.
A woman has been charged with shooting a 15-year-old boy outside an indoor track facility near Gately Park in Chicago in 2024, after getting into a fight with another woman during a back-to-school event in the Pullman neighborhood.
Sexual abuse charges were filed this week against a Park City, Illinois, police officer.
