(The Center Square) – Earlier this year, Chicago signed a one-year contract to provide shelter for migrant arrivals, which incorporates "tent cities," but as winter comes, plans have changed.
About 24,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago over the past year, leading the state to spend over $500 million on migrants this year alone.
The taxpayer funds have gone to shelters and services for the migrants, which includes a $29 million contract with GardaWorld Federal Services to help put shelters together, but some shelters have fallen through.
GardaWorld was going to be setting up the shelter in Brighton Park, but that plan failed due to environmental concerns.
On Wednesday, Pritzker was asked about GardaWorld’s role in helping with the migrant crisis.
"They are going to be involved and have been in work to help us stand up other shelters," Pritzker said. "Bricks and mortar shelters that already exist need work, and GardaWorld is helping us to complete that work very quickly."
Last month, the state announced the next part of its plan, which includes an additional $160 million investment through the Illinois Department of Human Services, bringing the total spent in taxpayer funds to over $500 million.
"We have not provided funding directly to the city, but we have spent, as you know, more than half a billion dollars," Pritzker said.
Additionally, Illinois’ migrant health care subsidies are projected to be $831 million this fiscal year, or $300 million over budget. In total, the state is expected to spend over $1 billion on noncitizen housing, health care, and other services.