Community activists call for end to Chicago's migrant 'sanctuary' status

As health concerns grow around non-citizen arrivals, including the recent death of a 5-year-old boy, some community activists are calling for an end to Chicago's status as a sanctuary city.

A city council meeting last week included public comments from Chicago residents seeking to end the city's migrant crisis by repealing the city's sanctuary status. The decision ultimately denied the public a vote.

Tio Hardiman of Violence Interrupters said there needs to be a stop to new arrivals coming in.

"What needs to happen in Chicago is Brandon Johnson needs to have the backbone to reverse the sanctuary city policy right now," Hardiman said. "We need to make sure we do not take any more migrants in because we are not prepared to provide the proper services to the migrants. Look at the child who died and others who are becoming ill."

The city said in a statement Tuesday evening the child's death is still being investigated and the child does not appear to have died from an infectious disease. The city also said there is no evidence of an outbreak at the shelter.

"The death of a child is a deeply tragic event, and our condolences go out to the Martinez Rivero family," a statement from the city of Chicago said. "The Chicago Department of Public Health is coordinating with the Cook County Medical Examiner, who is investigating the cause of death, along with the Mayor’s Office and other city agencies to investigate this incident."

Hardiman suggested a stop to the city's sanctuary status until the city can get its house in order.

"We got people dropping the migrants off in busses, not taking them to the known locations. They are just dropping them off," Hardiman said. "We don't know how many migrants are coming to the city now."

Problems will continue as people continue to show up, Hardiman said.

"The migrants are living in inhumane conditions right now," Hardiman said. "You need to reverse the policy, even if it's temporarily, till you can get a handle on what you are doing here with the migrants."

City and state funds to deal with the crisis have totaled nearly $700 million this year alone.