Lawmakers in Chicago are demanding answers from the Mayor's office regarding the failed Brighton Park migrant camp, which was deemed unsuitable due to environmental concerns. A report revealed elevated levels of mercury, lead, and arsenic at the site. Several aldermen have called for the resignation of the leaders responsible for the project. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated that the state will not proceed with the camp and discussions are ongoing to determine how to address the situation and support the migrants.
Three Chicago aldermen are calling for the immediate resignation of the leaders responsible for the failed Brighton Park migrant camp site. The aldermen sent a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson demanding the resignations of several individuals involved in the process. The decision to cancel the migrant camp came after a review by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, as the site was found to be on highly cancerous soil and lacked permits and community engagement. The aldermen argue that taxpayer funds were wasted and that the individuals involved failed to address the migrant crisis effectively.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responds after the state halts plans to build a migrant base camp in the Brighton Park neighborhood due to environmental concerns. The state cited insufficient soil sampling and remediation, revealing levels of mercury and other contaminants that exceeded environmental limits. The mayor remains committed to his mission of providing shelter for asylum seekers and plans to explore alternate locations. The state will expedite efforts to launch a brick-and-mortar shelter in the Little Village neighborhood and work with the Archdiocese of Chicago to find more options.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced the cancellation of a proposed migrant camp in Brighton Park, Chicago, citing serious environmental concerns. An environmental report released by the city revealed the presence of heavy metals and toxic chemicals at the site, prompting the state to halt construction. The decision highlights divisions between the mayor and governor's offices, with the mayor suggesting the site could be made safe, while the state disagreed. The governor's office is now working with the city and exploring alternative shelter options. Over 600 migrants currently remain camped out at police stations and O'Hare airport.
Plans for the construction of a migrant camp in Brighton Park, Chicago, are awaiting approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) after an environmental report revealed contamination at the proposed site. The report found chemicals such as mercury, arsenic, lead, and manganese in the soil. The city has started removing the chemicals and placed a stone barrier to limit access to potentially risky areas. The camp aims to temporarily house up to 2,000 migrants by mid-December. Some protesters are calling for the project to be shut down permanently, while the number of migrants living in police stations has decreased to 527.
The construction of a migrant camp in Brighton Park, Chicago, is nearing completion despite protests from the local community. The mayor's office released an 800-page environmental report on the project, which highlighted the need for remediation due to mercury-contaminated soil and the presence of a human carcinogen. The report has raised concerns about potential lawsuits and the safety of migrants in the future. The city claims that the site is safe for temporary residential use, with measures such as the placement of a layer of crushed clean stone to address remaining contamination.
A makeshift camp on the California side of the US-Mexico border is filled with migrants and their children who were hoping to take advantage of the Biden administration's end to the pandemic-era Title 42 and gain legal entry into the US. Since that expired and has been replaced with tougher new measures, their future became uncertain. Troubling new images reveal the hellish conditions of the camp where migrants and their kids huddled in garbage bags, begging for food. The number of children in the group is increasing, and the migrants have been given colored wristbands by the US authorities, but confusion reigns along the border.
