Chicago Democratic lawmakers now want to model ‘migrant camps’ on New York City’s ‘tent shelters’ as the Big Apple faces crisis that will cost $4B this year – and AOC gets heckled for leading tour

Democratic lawmakers from Chicago have traveled to New York City to “bring back” lessons on how to deal with a migrant surge in the Windy City that is expected to cost taxpayers $255 million by the end of the year.

Democratic Socialist representative. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leads a tour of New York City’s migrant shelters Friday for Chicago Reps. Chuy Garcia, Delia Ramirez, Mike Quigley and other members of the House of Representatives.

Like New York, Chicago has seen a surge in asylum seekers as conservative governors in southern states continue to bus migrants to northern progressive cities, arguing that these governments should also bear the costs of border crossings.

“I’m visiting migrant shelters in New York today to learn how NYC has addressed this problem and to bring those lessons back to Chicago,” said Rep. Quigley. “Together with my colleagues, we can ensure that the federal government provides our cities with the resources they need to support this population.”

The tour was organized by Ocasio-Cortez and fellow progressive representative Adriano Espaillat. Lawmakers plan to visit several shelters in the city, which are currently dealing with more than 110,000 asylum seekers who have arrived in the city since spring 2022. The crisis is expected to cost NYC $billion this year.

Officials in Chicago have said they will build tent shelters for migrants like those in New York City. The migrant camps set up on New York’s Randall’s Island can be seen above

A contractor places bags containing a pillow, towel and sheets on cots in the dormitory tent and shelter in the parking lot of Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens

They will also meet with Mayor Eric Adams, who has warned that the wave of asylum seekers will destroy the city if it continues.

The number of migrants needing shelter in Chicago has continued to increase in recent months, and city leaders have said they will follow New York’s lead by converting several locations around the city into migrant shelters.

New York has a legal obligation to provide shelter for those traveling to the subway, and Adams has desperately turned to a variety of city landmarks, makeshift shelters, and temporary housing as short-term solutions.

Emergency shelters have been built all over New York, including in the parking lot of Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens and in a field on Randall’s Island.

Last week, Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson said he will follow New York’s move as he looks for space to house migrants.

“We have identified several locations in the city that may be appropriate to process the family and individuals who are here by law and seeking constitutional and legal asylum, so that they have a place that recognizes their dignity,” Johnson said.

Chicago officials have yet to specify which locations they are looking at, but they will reportedly be climate-controlled, military-grade tents, according to Councilwoman Maria Hadden.

The former parking lot of the Halsted Indoor Mall at 115th and Halsted Streets could be one of the locations for a planned tent camp, CBS Chicago reported. The space would be redeveloped into affordable housing, but is currently vacant.

The lawmakers’ visit to Chicago got off to a rocky start as angry New Yorkers heckled Ocasio-Cortez outside Manhattan’s iconic Roosevelt Hotel, which has become the center of the Big Apple’s migrant scandal.

Lawmakers were forced to interrupt the press conference as the crowd continued to drown out Ocasio-Cortez.

‘Close the border! Close the border! Respect the AOC Constitution! I am your voter!’ a man shouted over the congressman’s speech into a megaphone.

Hundreds of migrants are being hidden behind this black curtain at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, where asylum seekers have reported inhumane living conditions, with families forced to sleep on the floor for up to 10 days.

A migrant father from Venezuela changes his 15-month-old son’s diaper in the lobby of a police station

Last week, hundreds of migrants were seen hiding behind a black curtain in a makeshift shelter at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, where families slept on the floor for up to 10 days at a time.

The makeshift shelter has poor quality food such as instant ramen, lack of access to health care, showers and laundry facilities, inadequate bedding and no support for placing children in schools, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Migrants have also been sleeping on the floor in Chicago police stations since June, waiting for access to proper shelters.

Chicago continues to struggle to accommodate the influx of thousands of migrants into the city. About 14,000 migrants have been bused to Chicago since August.

There are currently 15 reception centers for asylum seekers operating in the city. Another shelter is expected to open on the south side next month.