Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights meeting, September 29, 2023
- When: Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 9:00 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights
- Video: https://vimeo.com/868851893
- Transcript: full text (42,958 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights met on September 29, 2023, for a subject matter hearing on the city's response to new arrivals, with presentations from the Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights, the Deputy Chief of Staff, the Deputy Mayor for Community Safety, a CPD deputy chief, a volunteer medical team and a mutual aid volunteer. Officials reported about 9,300 people in 21 city shelters and roughly 2,300 waiting in police stations and at the airport, estimated total costs of $319.5 million to $362.9 million with a funding gap of $157 million to $201 million, and described plans for base camps, cost-saving measures, RFPs for community-based shelter and meal providers, and requests to state and federal governments. Nine public commenters spoke, and members raised concerns about the GardaWorld base camp contract, the Favorite Staffing and other contracts, communication with alderpersons, equity in shelter placement and spending in Black communities, police station conditions, and the level of state and federal support. The chair said he disagrees with the base camp decision and committed to further hearings, including with GardaWorld and Catholic Charities. The July Rule 45 report was approved; the hearing itself involved no vote.
Topics: new arrivals response, migrant shelters, base camps and GardaWorld contract, city procurement, state and federal funding, police station conditions, mutual aid, migrant health care, community safety, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 10:59 Rule 59 remote attendance for Alderpersons Rodriguez, Sposato, Hadden and Rodríguez Sánchez: passed
- 11:24 Public comment
- 40:05 Approval of the July Rule 45 report: passed
- 40:35 Subject matter hearing on the city's emergency operations in response to new arrivals: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (chair): Said the committee should remain independent of the executive branch, stated his disagreement with building base camps, and invited members to join a working group developing legislative alternatives. (40:42); Noted the base camp contract is an executive action without a council vote and said the council can amend the procurement code, which he is researching with colleagues. (2:24:14); Said three alderpersons can call a special meeting and that members learned of the GardaWorld contract from the news. (2:54:55)
- William Conway (alderperson): Asked what the y-axis of the cost chart represents and whether the funding gap covers only people in shelters. (1:30:27)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Said residents are angry the city has not taken care of its own, questioned why Favorite Staffing is still used, and called for a safety plan. (2:03:57); Said migrants should never have been housed in police stations and asked how spending is recycled into local communities. (2:06:09); Asked how much money went to organizations in shelter communities and how much Favorite Staffing has received. (2:13:07)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked whether any municipalities applied for the state's $42.5 million in funding for new arrivals. (2:40:54); Said she supports the mayor but the crisis is straining goodwill, and asked for a more thoughtful approach reflecting tensions in the Black community. (3:38:19); Asked that the team include African diaspora perspectives, that shelters be opened across the city, and that Catholic Charities' placement of migrants in Black wards be addressed. (3:40:06)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Agreed with Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor and said the response is dividing Black and brown communities. (2:41:54); Said alderpersons lack information and input on shelter placement and that shelters are not equitably distributed. (2:43:48); Questioned placing migrants in Park District facilities when quality-of-life calls in his district go unanswered. (2:45:27)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Asked when the city asked the state to identify and operate shelters and what the state's response was. (2:38:14); Thanked mutual aid volunteers and administration staff for their work. (3:00:32); Asked how many locations the city has scouted for shelters. (3:02:26)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Described the 25th Ward's early response to arrivals and said the previous administration had no plan despite letters from his office. (3:17:33); Criticized the state over the Little Village CVS location and said the state denied an application from a successful community shelter. (3:22:49); Asked how the contracts can be modified to provide local support. (3:34:14)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Agreed with Alderpersons Taylor and Ramírez-Rosa, said police stations are creating dangerous conditions, and called for a safety plan. (3:52:28); Said his ward has no vacant land for shelters and he would not allow use of parks or schools. (3:54:40); Asked who decides the maximum number of people housed in police stations. (3:55:04)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Thanked mutual aid groups and asked for police district counts in weekly briefings, noting the 9th District is among the most crowded. (4:00:12); Asked what new arrivals are told about the process when they arrive, noting some refuse shelter or move between districts. (4:02:12); Urged building local capacity rather than relying on outside contractors and offered to discuss technology for communication. (4:07:47)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked where the winterized tents have been used, who conducts background checks for GardaWorld staff, and how incidents would be reported to CPD. (4:12:10); Said the no-bid contract bypasses council review and cited reported findings about GardaWorld's past conduct as reasons for concern. (4:13:16)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked what metrics and penalties would hold GardaWorld accountable. (4:17:20); Asked whether legal aid is being identified to help arrivals complete TPS and work authorization forms. (4:18:53); Suggested community organizations act as fiscal agents to fund mutual aid networks. (4:21:04)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Thanked the chair, cited U.S. sanctions on Venezuela as a cause of migration, and noted Chicago is shouldering the response among Illinois' municipalities. (4:23:31); Urged colleagues to collaborate and seek creative solutions rather than point fingers. (4:25:03); Asked how much federal funding Illinois has received to support arrivals and what jurisdiction the committee has over state and federal officials. (4:25:56)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Thanked administration staff and asked how the city can provide funding and support to the volunteer medical team. (4:30:25); Said philanthropic and hospital system support should already be committed and offered to help secure it. (4:35:58); Asked through the chair when the homeless and new arrival systems will be unified and for a review of the Catholic Charities arrangement and possible contractors. (4:37:05)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked for dates for future hearings and said her community was not consulted before the Broadway Armory became a shelter. (4:41:00); Asked that the planned dashboard and website also serve as a resource for new arrivals and residents who want to help. (4:42:28); Asked how the city is helping new arrivals find employment. (4:48:52)
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Said the care structures needed for this crisis do not yet exist and the administration is building them, including coordination with mutual aid groups. (4:50:06); Asked how people housed in churches can access services and what supports CPS will provide to schools receiving new students. (4:52:43)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked through the chair about Archdiocese properties offered for shelter, use of the state rental assistance program, and how gender-based violence in shelters is addressed. (4:54:27)
- Michael D. Rodriguez (alderperson): Recognized mutual aid volunteers at the 10th District and asked about leveraging federal funds given to other jurisdictions and about resettlement efforts. (4:55:42)
Exchanges between members
- 2:05:14 Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor credited Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. as among those who spoke against the contract arrangement.
- 2:05:14 Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor credited Alderperson Byron Sigcho-López as among those who spoke against the contract arrangement.
- 2:24:14 The chair responded to Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor with a point of information on council authority over procurement and thanked her for her energy.
- 2:41:54 Alderperson Chris Taliaferro thanked Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor and said he agreed with every word she said.
- 2:54:55 The chair clarified for Alderperson Chris Taliaferro that three alderpersons can call a special council meeting.
- 3:52:38 Alderperson Nicholas Sposato said he agreed with Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor.
- 4:00:48 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee said she had planned to ask the same question as Alderperson Nicholas Sposato.
- 4:13:16 Alderperson Scott Waguespack told the chair he agreed with his concerns about the contract.
- 4:16:20 The chair said he similarly had questions about GardaWorld and the contract.
- 4:26:59 Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes asked the chair what jurisdiction the committee has to bring state and federal officials to hearings.
- 4:27:16 The chair answered Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes that the committee cannot subpoena state or federal officials.
- 4:38:29 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden said she supports Alderperson Scott Waguespack questions about GardaWorld.
- 4:41:41 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth said she appreciated Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes words.
- 4:41:45 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth referenced Alderperson Pat Dowell remarks about who is making money.
- 4:42:50 Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth echoed Alderperson Nicole T. Lee question about who orients new arrivals.
- 4:52:25 Alderperson Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez said she was grateful for Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes words.
- 4:55:42 Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez remarked on Alderperson Matthew J. Martin brevity before asking his questions.