Chicago was declared a “sanctuary city” 38 years ago, meaning, among other things, that undocumented people can live without fear of police harassment because officers or other city officials aren’t supposed to ask about their immigration status. But Ald. Anthony Beale wants a referendum to decide if that policy continue.
John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said he’s fed up with having Chicago police officers “babysit” asylum seekers staying at district stations.
Chief of Patrol Brian McDermott acknowledged the Chicago Police Department was caught flat-footed when groups of young people descended on the Loop last month.
With resources exhausted and limited shelter beds available in Chicago, immigrants who have been sent here have been sleeping and eating meals on the floors of police stations in recent weeks.
Chicago’s response to a growing immigrant crisis has turned police stations into makeshift shelters where asylum seekers have been provided with expired meal rations and where infections and infestations are a common problem.