11.02.23

Durbin, Duckworth Meet with Mayor of Chicago

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to examine steps for a humanitarian response to the arrival of more than 19,500 migrants to the city.  During the meeting, Durbin, Duckworth, and Mayor Johnson discussed the federal government’s role in offering critical support to Illinois as it receives thousands of new arrivals.  Durbin and Duckworth reiterated their commitment to advocating for federal resources to aid the state and city’s response.

“Today, Senator Duckworth and I had a productive conversation with Mayor Johnson about how we can best support and integrate migrants arriving in Chicago.  The Biden Administration must offer federal resources to our state and Chicago to accommodate the strain that irresponsible leadership in Texas has placed on Illinois,” said Durbin.  “I stand at the ready to assist Mayor Johnson in ensuring migrants are authorized to work so they can start their new lives in Illinois.”

“Since August 2022, Republican Governors have sent over 19,000 asylum seekers into Chicago, some in the dead of night when humanitarian support isn’t even available, treating them like cargo and exploiting human beings for political gain. It’s inhumane,” said Duckworth. “I appreciated Mayor Johnson coming to speak with Senator Durbin and me in Washington today, and we are all committed to developing strategy and showing compassion to our state’s newest arrivals. While Senator Durbin and I work to pass President Biden’s national security supplemental—which would send millions to communities like Chicago that are struggling to humanely address the needs of these humans being used as pawns by Republicans—we will keep working with Mayor Johnson, Governor Pritzker and community leaders to ensure we treat all people with compassion and dignity.”

“I am thankful for Senators Durbin and Duckworth convening a broader group of leaders to discuss the challenges facing the City of Chicago, and I look forward to continued collaboration with our federal partners as we bring the full force of government together to address the urgency of this humanitarian endeavor,” said Mayor Johnson.

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