O’Hare Airport’s Unconventional Response to Growing Asylum Seeker Influx in Chicago
IN CHICAGO In one of the busiest airports in the country, concealed behind a thick black curtain, is Chicago’s unnerving response to an increase in the number of asylum applicants flying in.
At Terminal 1 of O’Hare International Airport, a shuttle bus hub is home to hundreds of migrants, ranging in age from infants to seniors. They share airport restrooms and sleep on cardboard pads on the floor. Their movements are tracked by a private company.
Chicago has struggled to house asylum seekers, slowly transitioning individuals out of temporary housing and into shelters and, soon, tents, like New York and other cities. However, Chicago’s use of airports is uncommon given that they were previously denied, and it emphasizes the city’s disorganized reaction to the problem. Concerns regarding safety and how those escaping violence and poverty are treated have also been highlighted by the practice.
One of the few volunteers at O’Hare remarked, “It was supposed to be a stop-and-go site. “It’s quite worrying. It is not only a safety issue; it is also a public health one.
Some refugees spend weeks at O’Hare before being transferred to police stations or succeeding in entering one of the few shelters that are open. Within a few weeks, Chicago intends to follow New York’s lead and deploy winterized tents.
At O’Hare, up to 500 individuals have shared an area that is much smaller than a city block and is covered by a curtain that is stapled shut. Their movements are observed by a private organization, whose employees manage who passes through and leaves the curtain.
Disease spreads rapidly. Limited first aid is offered by the staffing agency, and ambulances are requested. Over the summer, a volunteer team of doctors made one trip, and their supplies were completely destroyed.
Chicago’s Response to Growing Migration: Challenges and Efforts at O’Hare and Midway Airports
Chicago provides meals, but only during particular hours, and many of the cuisines are foreign to newcomers. As a result of airport security concerns, there are less food and clothing contributions at O’Hare than there are for migrants closer to Chicago’s downtown.
The majority of the 14,000 immigrants who have settled in Chicago over the past year are from Texas, partly as a result of Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s policies.
The city’s current services were strained as more migrants entered the country. Officials acknowledged that the city need greater assistance from the state and federal governments but failed to identify longer-term housing solutions. Since taking office in May, Brandon Johnson has suggested tents.
Many migrants come from Venezuela, where millions of people have fallen into poverty as a result of a political, social, and economic disaster over the previous ten years. At least 7.3 million people have gone, many of whom took a perilous trip to America.
Maria Daniela Sanchez Valera, 26, and her 2-year-old daughter just arrived at O’Hare after traveling through Panama’s perilous, jungle-covered Darien Gap. Five years ago, she left Venezuela for Peru, where her daughter was born. She departed after her daughter’s father was killed.
“We come here with the intention of working, not with the intention of being given everything,” she declared. She is not eligible for a new Biden Administration plan to grant Venezuelans temporary legal status status and the capacity to work because she arrived after the deadline.
She endeavors to keep her toddler engaged by taking strolls around the terminal. However, on a recent occasion, a member of the airport staff approached Valera and requested that she halt her daughter’s running, or they might face eviction. Favorite Healthcare Staffing, the company responsible for managing the terminal, asserted that their employees treat newcomers with dignity and pledged to conduct a thorough investigation.
Valera expressed her desire to take a train from the airport, but she lacked the approximately $5 subway fare. She lamented, “Many people have managed to leave, and they say that you can find quality clothing for children in the dumpster.”
As the number of migrants arriving by plane has surged, Chicago has repurposed its two international airports as temporary shelters, with nearly 3,000 individuals seeking refuge since June.
A few individuals have established residence at Midway International Airport. When they require clothing or services, volunteers report that they walk a distance of 2 miles (equivalent to 3 kilometers) to reach a nearby police station.
At O’Hare Airport, migrants have dispersed beyond the designated area, choosing to rest along the windows. Passengers with rolling suitcases and airport staff boarding buses pass by, with some pausing to capture photographs.
Chicago authorities acknowledge that utilizing O’Hare is not the ideal solution, but they assert that they have no other viable options given the crisis they inherited. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, the first deputy chief of staff, explained that the city is gradually expanding its capacity to accommodate these individuals. Since May, they have established 15 additional shelters and resettled around 3,000 people. These shelters provide 190,000 meals every week and collaborate with various organizations to provide medical care. Nevertheless, they still heavily rely on the support of volunteers to bridge any gaps.
“It may not be perfect,” Pacione-Zayas admitted, “but what we have committed to is upholding our values and the implementation of a sanctuary city. We will continue to work on this, but we are holding steadfast in our commitment.” In contrast, some other cities are opposed to using airports for this purpose.
Airport Challenges and Asylum Seeker Stories: Logan, Atlantic City, and O’Hare
At Boston’s Logan International Airport, migrants arriving overnight are provided with cots for a brief respite before being directed to alternative locations. Jennifer Mehigan, the spokesperson for Massport, emphasized that Logan is not an appropriate place for extended stays.
Recently, when reports surfaced about a potential federal plan to utilize Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey as a shelter, elected officials vehemently criticized the idea.
Dennis Levinson, the Executive of Atlantic County, expressed his skepticism, saying, “It’s an utterly impractical solution to the challenges we’re facing. Who will ensure their security? Who will provide them with food? Who will educate them? We simply lack the necessary infrastructure to care for them.”
Jhonatan Gelvez, a 21-year-old from Colombia, didn’t intend to stay at O’Hare Airport for long, as he had a friend in Chicago. He became emotional when discussing his separation from his fiancé during their journey to the U.S. Among his meager possessions was a silver anchor-shaped necklace she had given him.
“Simply by arriving here, I feel a sense of peace,” he said. “This is a country filled with countless opportunities. I am deeply grateful.”
Yoli Cordova, aged 42, arrived at O’Hare just a few days ago. She left Venezuela due to facing discrimination because of her sexual orientation. While she shed tears of relief upon leaving her homeland, she still carries deep concerns for her daughters back in Venezuela.
“I’m unsure if they will be able to assist me here,” Cordova confessed, her uncertainty palpable. “I truly don’t know what steps to take or where to turn.