"Chicago Officials Take Action to Protect Migrants During Winter Storm"

Mayor Brandon Johnson will delay enforcing the 60-day migrant shelter limit policy due to heavy snowfall and low wind chills, allowing about 650 residents to stay through at least Jan. 22. The city-run shelter system, currently at capacity with 14,600 migrants, has paused opening new sites due to fiscal concerns. Chicago spent about $148.6 million on migrant services in 2023 and budgeted $150 million for this year. Asylum-seekers are facing harsh winter conditions, with some sleeping inside heated buses at the "landing zone." Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker implored Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to stop sending migrants to Chicago during severe winter weather, while Mayor Johnson called for more federal aid and criticized the lack of coordination in addressing the migrant crisis.