'Betrayal to our citizens': Alderman warns Chicago is 'not equipped' to handle flood of illegal immigrants

CHICAGO, IL - Chicago Democrat Alderman, Brian Hopkins, recently spoke out regarding the influx of migrants within city limits, saying the federal government has "failed to secure the U.S.-Mexico border." Chicago is “attempting to close its own borders to the constant flow of migrant buses and now private charter planes that are landing," he said.

“Part of this is a response to the city attempting to close its own borders to the constant flow of migrant buses and now private charter planes that are landing," Hopkins said. "It’s happening at a time when we are not prepared when we don’t have the resources that we’ve allocated, the social workers, the medical staff, the people who are there to try and take these migrants in."

Hopkins was asked, “Aren’t we talking about a massive crisis at the southern border from where these migrants are coming? And what is your message on the lack of security and the lack of securing the southern border on the part of the federal government?”

He replied, “Yeah, absolutely. The federal government has dropped the ball. I’ve made that clear, I’ve said that repeatedly since this crisis started. We, as a city, the municipal government of Chicago, are not equipped to handle this. We’ve never been equipped to handle this. We’re trying to do the best we can.

"But when this crisis started over a year ago, we went to the federal government immediately and said, we can’t do this; give us funding, give us support. We went to FEMA and basically came away empty-handed. So, that’s the source of my impatience now. We’ve been asking for assistance from the federal government to help this crisis on the ground and to secure the border in Texas and Arizona. And so far, neither has happened.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of migrants are moving into shelters during the winter storm and awaiting placement in Chicago, which has stretched the state and community resources thin.

In December, Hopkins called out the Biden administration for the nations current migrant crisis. He argued, "We're seeing communities destabilized... We're seeing crime go up, property values go down... We simply can't handle any more. We're not equipped for it."

"I'm a Democrat, but I'll say the Biden administration has absolutely dropped the ball, I'm not going to let them off the hook," Hopkins continued.

"They have left us in the ditch with this, and thats unacceptable."

Another Democrat who has voiced similar concerns is Hopkins' city mayor, Brandon Johnson. According to his interview with CNN, he believes that the White House's approach to assist Chicago appears "uncoordinated."

Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams also voiced his frustrations regarding Biden's administration saying they have proven unhelpful, offering critiques instead of aid.