Migrants speak out as they eagerly await shelter placement in Chicago
CHICAGO - It can be a long and treacherous journey for asylum seekers to get to the United States, but for many migrants that risk is outweighed by hope.
Still, there are hurdles they must overcome in Chicago – and that begins with shelter.
Amid the city’s ongoing challenges to house an influx of new arrivals, many men, women and children have found temporary refuge in the lobbies and on the sidewalks of Chicago police stations.
At District 12, located in the 1400 block of South Blue Island Avenue, dozens of people patiently await the opportunity to be placed into shelters.
In the lobby, a narrow pathway is all that’s visible next to rows of blankets, pillows and personal belongings. For a fortunate group of migrants staying there, the long-awaited day of shelter placement finally came.
On Tuesday afternoon, city officials stepped in to facilitate the process. A speakerphone, clipboard, and yellow school bus represented a new glimmer of hope for families. It meant that nights of sleeping on the hard lobby floor are over, and that a bed has become available in a shelter.
"There have been days when it’s raining and we try to take cover in the lobby, but we’re told it’s too full, that we have to stay outside," said Eduardo Chirino, a migrant from Venezuela.
Women and families were among the first group to be called Tuesday, while another van was assigned to transport single men to their designated shelters.
Each migrant’s assigned shelter location varies, and depends on where there is room available.
To maintain order and organization, each migrant is assigned a unique identification number, enabling the city to keep track of placements and arrangements, FOX 32 Chicago was told on Tuesday.
Chirino was hoping to board one of the buses, but unfortunately, was told it's not quite his turn. He says he’s already been living at the police district for 25 days.
"Three buses came already to take families, but for single men, we’re still here and we want to leave too because we are sleeping outside," said Chirino.
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On Tuesday evening, another bus returned to pick up a group of single men, and Chirino said he hopes those buses keep coming.
Meanwhile, another migrant from Venezuela, Joel Guevara, is settled into a shelter. This, after he, too, spent many nights at a local police station.
"I’m here with my brother," said Guevara.
In Venezuela, he says it was nearly impossible to provide for his family.
"And you come to America, maybe get a better job for helping family in my country, and for that reason I’m here," said Guevara. "We crossed the jungle, and we took a lot of time to get to the United States, crossing seven countries, Panama, Costa Rica, and it’s really dangerous. It’s really difficult for us, but we’re here now."
Now, Guevara is waiting again – this time, for a work permit – but shared his gratitude for having a roof over his head.
"I love this, I like Chicago," said Guevara.
As of Tuesday, 3,031 asylum seekers were staying in police districts across the city awaiting shelter placement, while 600 others remained at O’Hare.