Chicago is opening its doors to hundreds of migrant children, in an effort to aid federal officials with the influx of unaccompanied children crossing U.S. borders.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced this week that Chicago officials will work with local housing and immigration organizations to provide housing, care and up to 1,000 beds for the children.
The move is in response to federal officials approaching Emanuel in early July and asking the city to host a federally funded housing facility for migrant children.
Local organizations like the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the Heartland Alliance and National Immigration Justice Center are working with city officials to offer the free accommodation, assistance and pro bono legal services.
The U.S. has seen an uptick in migrant children showing up in country. Many come from Central America, alone. Emanuel called the issue a “humanitarian crisis.”
“We will do our part to ensure that these children are given access to services and treated fairly and humanely,” Emanuel said in a public release.
