As Chicago residents protest the city's allocation of $70 million for migrant assistance, police data reveals the soaring number of Venezuelan nationals arrested in the city. Amidst concerns for officer safety, the outrage stems from increased police arrests of Venezuelans, while activists and community members demand the prioritization of local needs.
Chicago residents have expressed outrage over the city's decision to approve an additional $70 million in funding for migrant care, a move that follows a massive influx of undocumented Venezuelans in recent months. Police data obtained by the Chicago Tribune reveals that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has made over 1,000 arrests of Venezuelan nationals in the first three months of 2024.
The arrests include 609 for driving/traffic offenses, nine violent felonies, 75 violent misdemeanors, and 313 non-violent offenses. However, it's important to note that the data is limited to adults arrested by CPD and does not include juveniles or arrests by other agencies. Additionally, the data does not indicate when the Venezuelan nationals arrived or their immigration status.
Despite the high arrest numbers, analysis shows that Venezuelans are less likely to be accused of violent crimes, including homicides. This finding raises concerns about the potential bias in arrests and the impact on community relations. The data also comes amid growing agitation and anger among Chicago residents over the influx of migrants and the response from local government officials.
The Chicago City Council recently voted 30-18 to approve Mayor Brandon Johnson's request for an additional $70 million to address the ongoing migrant crisis. This funding is in addition to the $150 million already allocated for migrant care in the budget. According to Mayor Johnson's office, the city has been dealing with over 2,000 migrants arriving per week at its peak. Nearly 40,000 migrants have arrived since August 2022.
Mayor Johnson's office claims that the funding request is necessary to ensure the city's preparedness for any sudden increases in new arrivals sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The city aims to provide migrants with basic necessities, including food, shelter, medical care, education, vaccines, case management, and resettlement support.
However, residents have criticized the funding decision, arguing that the money should be spent on the community itself rather than on migrants. Activists and community members have protested the council meeting, demanding that local needs be prioritized.
"The main objection is that there seems to be no end in sight," activist P Rae Easley told Fox News Digital. "Every three or four months, there seems to be some new vote for a massive amount of taxpayer funds to be allocated to the illegals, and we have to put a stop to it, or it's going to bankrupt our city."
The situation in Chicago reflects the broader challenges faced by cities across the country as the United States grapples with a migrant crisis now in its fourth year. Last fiscal year, there were over 2.4 million migrant encounters at the southern border. The knock-on effects are having significant political implications, with residents demanding accountability and the prioritization of their own communities' needs.
