(NewsNation) — Migrants facing eviction from Chicago-run shelters this week instead received a 60-day reprieve from Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has now extended housing limit deadlines three times since announcing his policy involving asylum-seekers in November.
Johnson announced the extension on Monday, three days before nearly 2,000 migrants would have been forced to leave city shelters, WBEZ reported.
The extension comes after Chicago alderpersons asked the mayor to rescind his policy, citing the health and wellness of migrants being housed in the city. A total of 5,700 migrants who were scheduled to be forced out of city shelters between the end of January and the end of February will now be allowed to remain there for an additional 60 days, Johnson said at a news conference.
An additional 2,000 migrants scheduled to be evicted in March have been given an additional 30 days under the extension, the mayor said. However, in announcing his decision, Johnson said his plan to provide migrants a place to stay in city-run shelters was never meant to be permanent or offer up “long-term” housing.
A total of nearly 14,000 asylum-seekers are being housed in 28 city-run shelters, including park district buildings and warehouses, according to CBS News.
“We want to give every person and every single family that has come to our city enough time to process their work authorization, find housing, start a new life in our great city,” Johnson said at the news conference.
Chicago has joined New York City and Denver as sanctuary cities using city shelters to provide housing for migrants. Prior to announcing that asylum-seekers would be permitted to stay in these buildings, Johnson had arranged for them to stay temporarily at police stations and the city’s airports.
More than 35,000 migrants have been sent to Chicago by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has continued to do so despite pleas from Johnson to suspend sending more during a recent extreme winter weather snap. Johnson has become the target of criticism by local alderpersons, who have asked the mayor to remove time limits, the Associated Press reported.
“To stand by the decision to impose 60-day limits on shelters without addressing these systemic issues leaves new arrivals without options for housing or shelter,” a letter sent by alderpersons to the mayor read. “This situation simply should not be acceptable.”
