The village of Oak Park has stepped up to offer aid to asylum-seeking migrants housed near the town’s border with Chicago, with residents and municipal leaders making their calls for aid public and constant.
At an hours-long Village Board meeting last month, the migrant issue was at the forefront of discussions. The meeting came days before the village sprang into action, taking in dozens of asylum-seekers from camping-style tents setup for them outdoors and moving them inside — either into the village police station or a shelter provided by local churches.
“We are a village of 54,000 and we have hoped that Cook County would step up and lead an effort that we could participate in, that Chicago could lead an effort that we could participate in,” Trustee Brian Straw said at the Oct. 30 board meeting.
[ Read our full coverage on Chicago’s migrant crisis ]
Straw said “it’s time” for Oak Park to be a leader, and “work on stepping out in front so we can bring along our neighboring communities.
“The goal should be for this to be a coordinated western suburban response, where we are not alone at the front, but linking arms with our neighbors,” Straw said. “But the only way to get there, when no else is willing to step out first, is to step out. And it’s time.”
The next day, village leaders decided to open the police station to migrants who were housed outdoors as the air temperatures dipped and snow fell. A local church also stepped in and accepted families.
Then at a Nov. 2 special Village Board meeting, trustees expanded the aid, approving an emergency disaster declaration that allowed for “quick action” to provide more help and support for the migrants. The declaration, which is set to expire Dec. 4, also helps reallocate village staff members to help support migrants while also maintaining day-to-day operations, according to village officials.
While Trustee Parakkat acknowledged that this is a humanitarian crisis, he said he wouldn’t support with taxpayer dollars but would if American Rescue Plan Act funding was utilized.
Village Manager Kevin Jackson said he determined money could come from the American Rescue Plan Act fund. Additionally, a large number of public comments from both Oak Park residents and other concerned citizens were delivered at the Oct. 30 meeting.
Cook County Board Commissioner Tara Stamps, D-1st Dist., said that this humanitarian crisis has “divided communities along racial lines,” and has received a “different” response than with the Ukrainian refugees.
“I’m gonna ask that we be who we say we are, that we be lovers of humanity, that we stand in the gap, and that we show up because we have to lead with love,” Stamps said.
Oak Park resident Derek Eder also voiced his support for the the village rendering aid.
“Let’s show them that love wins over fear, and let’s show them that diversity is strength. Let’s show them that this crisis is actually an opportunity to enrich the lives of our new arrivals and to enrich the lives of our own village,” Eder said. “Let’s show them what Oak Park really stands for.”
Trustee Cory Wesley suggested the board “look at things creatively and with innovation,” and put forth an idea of eliminating the water bill for the St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish in Oak Park that is aiding migrants, including offering showers, and has incurred a high water bill.
“We really want to be involved here in Oak Park, it’s what we do, it’s in our DNA, it’s our values, it’s the statement on the door.” Wesley said. “I do think that in order for this to be as effective and scalable as it needs to be to help as many people as need to be helped here with this issue, we really need more than us.”
Ryan Hudgins is a freelancer.
Pioneer Press staff contributed.