A Democrat-led city’s police force reportedly arrested over 1,000 Venezuelan nationals in the first quarter of 2024, sparking controversy amid heightened concerns over the cost of supporting migrants. The arrests included 609 for driving and traffic offenses, nine for violent felonies, 75 for violent misdemeanors, and 313 for other non-violent offenses, with nine cases listed as unknown or not specified. This data was analyzed from Chicago crime and arrest records by The Chicago Tribune, focusing on adult arrests by Chicago police and excluding juveniles or arrests by other agencies. The report did not specify the immigration status or arrival dates of the Venezuelan nationals.
The surge in arrests comes amidst ongoing agitation and frustration over the influx of migrants and the local government’s response. The Chicago City Council recently voted 30-18 to approve Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request for an additional $70 million to address the migrant crisis, in addition to the $150 million already allocated in the budget. Johnson’s office stated that the city has been receiving over 2,000 migrants per week, with nearly 40,000 arriving since August 2022. The funding request was aimed at preparing the city for potential sudden increases in new arrivals, particularly those sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
The city’s efforts include providing basic necessities such as food, shelter, medical care, education, vaccines, case management, and resettlement support. Abbott has been transporting migrants to several “sanctuary” cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, arguing that these cities should bear the responsibility for a national migrant crisis he believes their policies have fueled. The United States has been grappling with a migrant crisis for four years, with over 2.4 million migrant encounters at the southern border in the last fiscal year.