Residents of Brighton Park, Chicago, are expressing their discontent over the establishment of a state-funded shelter for undocumented immigrants in their neighborhood.
The shelter, one of two being constructed, is a source of daily protests near its site, as reported by Reuters.
The Illinois state government has invested $65 million in the project, which is expected to accommodate up to 2,200 undocumented immigrants. The shelters are slated to open their doors by mid-December. However, Brighton Park residents are seeking legal recourse to halt the construction, arguing that the project infringes upon Chicago's zoning laws.
Ricardo Palacios, a longtime resident and protestor, voiced his concerns, stating, "These people are just getting off the bus and everything's given to them. As a taxpayer, I don't think that's right." The sentiment of being blindsided by the project was echoed by community member Michael Patlan, who told Fox 32, "Nobody was really told this was going to happen, they basically said, were going to do this, shut up."
The shelter will enforce an 11 pm curfew for its residents, but local inhabitants fear the difficulty of its implementation. They are apprehensive about a potential surge in crime and the strain on already overcrowded schools. "I can handle myself, I worry more about the children in the neighborhood," expressed Patlan.
The residents' concerns extend to the environmental safety of the site, located at 38th Street and California Avenue. The land, previously an industrial site, is believed to have contaminated soil. Palacios pointed out the potential health risks, saying, "You got the railroad tracks right behind, when it rains the water comes in. Sooner or later, people are going to end up getting sick, theyre going to sue the City of Chicago, us as taxpayers, were going to end up paying double."
The city is shelling out approximately $92,000 per month to lease the lot. Additionally, it has entered into a $29 million contract with Canadian firm GardaWorld to construct camps for undocumented immigrants throughout the city. The residents' resistance to the project underscores the ongoing tension surrounding immigration policies and their local implications.
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