Senate Commerce Committee members investigate Chicago's airport migrant shelters, caution against attracting illegal immigrants.

The Senate Commerce Committee is probing Chicago's treatment of illegal immigrants at two airports, alleging that the city is flouting funding rules and attracting more immigrants due to its sanctuary city policy.

Since March, the Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have written to Mayor Brandon Johnson regarding the city's decision to house migrants at O'Hare International Airport and more recently at Midway International Airport. Last year, images surfaced of hundreds of migrants camped out in O'Hare in a designated area of the airport. This occurred as the city grappled with an overwhelming influx of tens of thousands of migrants since mid-2022.

"The use of airport facilities and infrastructure to house illegal aliens not only diminishes the value of taxpayers' investment in the national airport system but, specifically in the case of O'Hare, as federally-funded airport facilities are withdrawn from public access and use, it violates the requirement that these federally funded facilities be available for public use as an airport."

"They claim that no rational individual would describe an airport as a location that harbors illegal immigrants," the statement goes.

The opposition of Chicago to busing migrants from Texas by Gov. Greg Abbott highlights the city's efforts to uphold its "sanctuary city" status.

According to the statement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is accused of using the transportation of illegal aliens to sanctuary cities as a way to sow chaos and that his actions are motivated by racial animus. Additionally, it is claimed that his program targets cities led by black or color leaders and that the federal government and American taxpayers should bear the cost of Chicago's decision to flout federal law.

Is the city attempting to extract more funds from United and American Airlines while grappling with the financial burdens of being a sanctuary city?

What is the number of migrants being housed at the airports, the associated costs, the dangers it has created, if it received any federal waivers, and if it consulted with the TSA on aviation safety and security?

Instead of solely supporting border communities, we urge you to utilize your resources to advocate for border and transportation security, the enforcement of immigration laws, and to reconsider the sanctuary city policy in Chicago, which attracts illegal immigrants.

Johnson highlighted his administration's initiatives to offer housing, healthcare, and education to the migrants arriving in the city. However, he has requested additional federal support. He is part of a group of mayors who have requested over $5 billion in aid from the federal government.

Johnson stated that instead of chaos, he aimed to provide structure and calm in the situation. However, without significant federal support, this is not sustainable.

"I've said repeatedly we need more resources," he added.

Johnson stated that the country's entire future is at risk if the federal government does not make a substantial investment in Chicago's mission.