Migrant workers

Chicago is facing a $1.2 billion dollar deficit and the city is proposing tax increases to pay for the debt. Citizens are complaining because over the past five years the city has spent $800 million on migrants mostly for housing and healthcare. While arrivals surged starting in late 2022, the Illinois Policy Institute reported that over 238,000 international migrants came to the Chicago area between 2020 and early 2025 In addition, schools are facing an influx of students who cannot speak English. It is unlawful for an illegal migrant to work in the US so many are working off the books and often at low wages without benefits. These workers are often taken advantage of. If the migrants who are convicted criminals could be deported, it would open the door to offer those whose only crime is crossing the border, to be set up for work permits leading to green cards and then citizenship. As the economy goes through the process of reindustrialization these people will be needed to fill jobs.