Chicago city officials announced on Friday a new policy that will require migrants residing in city-run shelters to vacate the premises within 60 days. The decision reflects the city's diminishing capacity to accommodate the thousands of new arrivals. The strategy change comes after Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration faced mounting pressure to address the exorbitant costs associated with housing and supporting migrants. The move highlights the recognition that even sanctuary cities like Chicago have limits to their resources.

The shift in policy aims to prioritize shelter space for individuals currently camped outside or on the floors of Chicago police stations, ensuring they have access to a bed before the cold weather sets in. Alongside the shelter limits, the city will crack down on what the mayor's office has described as "rogue buses" transporting migrants and increase personnel at initial landing spots to encourage migrants to seek accommodations elsewhere. The goal is to judiciously utilize the finite resources available, according to Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Johnson.

The implementation of the new policy will occur in waves. The first round of exit notices will begin on Friday, targeting approximately 50 people who have been residing in shelters since last year. On December 4, a 60-day warning will be issued for new arrivals who entered shelters before August, totaling around 3,000 individuals. Another round of notices will be sent on February 1, targeting the 8,800 residents who checked in by Thursday. For any migrants joining the shelter system from Friday onwards, a 60-day notice will be given upon intake.

Mayor Johnson, while announcing the shelter limit, emphasized that the city remains welcoming but acknowledged the need to be responsible with limited resources. Beatriz Ponce de León, Deputy Mayor of Immigration, echoed this sentiment, stating that Chicago is still a welcoming city but must deal with the challenges posed by resource constraints. The mayor's office stressed that humane resettlement remains the goal.

According to the city's statement, services will be provided to assist migrants in achieving long-term stability. This includes expanding case management and legal services, with the aim of obtaining temporary protective status and work authorization for nearly 11,000 migrants by February. Exceptions to the 60-day limit may be made in cases of medical crises, severe cold weather, or imminent move-in dates with apartment leases.

Concerns have been raised by residents of migrant shelters who worry about being left without shelter during the upcoming cold months. The city assures that services will be in place to help individuals attain long-term stability. However, it remains unclear how the city will handle situations where residents refuse to vacate shelters. The previous policy, under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, had a 30-day limit, but it was not enforced due to a slowdown in arrivals until the end of her term.

In response to the challenges posed by the influx of migrants, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a $160 million infusion, with $65 million allocated to setting up another tent encampment for migrants operated by the city. The funding will also go towards establishing a new centralized intake center, case management, and other services. The exact locations for the new base camp and the intake center are yet to be determined.

Additionally, the state revealed changes to rental assistance programs, with the rental assistance for new arrivals not in the shelter system being cut off. The time limit for those already in the city's shelters will be reduced from six months to three months. The aim behind these changes, framed by both the Pritzker and Johnson administrations, is to maximize the number of individuals who can benefit from the assistance.

To regulate incoming buses of migrants, the city plans to cap the number of buses at two per hour and schedule arrivals between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday only. The statement from Mayor Johnson's office claims that certain "rogue" buses have disregarded requests regarding where, when, and how to unload new arrivals, potentially endangering lives. Violators of these rules, including bus companies, will be subject to citations.

In an effort to reunite migrants with their families outside of Chicago and alleviate pressure on the shelter system, increased staff will be stationed at initial drop-off locations to direct migrants to alternative destinations if they so choose. The mayor's office hopes this will provide both support and save space in the city's shelters.

The city's decision to limit shelter capacity for migrants represents a pragmatic approach to managing resources in the face of growing demand. While the move has sparked concerns among shelter residents, officials assure that services will be in place to assist migrants during the transitional period. As Chicago grapples with constraints, the aim remains to balance welcoming initiatives with responsible management of resources.