Brandon Johnson’s budgeted amount for migrant crisis, $150 million, will only last six months, his floor leader says

A migrant father from Venezuela feeds his 15-month-old son last spring in the lobby of the 16th District police station, where they were staying with other migrant families since their arrival to the city. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa says the city’s 2024 budget only has six months of funding for the ongoing migrant crisis. (Scott Olson/Getty)

The $150 million Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2024 budget earmarks for Chicago’s ongoing migrant crisis will only cover six months, possibly requiring a mid-year appropriation, his City Council floor leader said Friday.

“We are well aware that $150 million will not cover the expenses for the entire year…We’re going to ask the state of Illinois to step up in the same way that New York state has, and help reimburse about half of the costs the city incurs, as well as operate its own shelters,” Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35^th) told the Chicago Sun-Times.