Dupage Policy Journal

Five buses dropped off 201 illegal immigrants in DuPage County on Jan. 5.

At 3 a.m. two buses dropped off a combined 70 passengers at the Metra Station in Glen Elyn.

They were joined by two other drop-offs at the same spot later in the day where one bus dropped 50 passengers at 2 p.m. and another bus dropped 41 passengers 10 minutes later.

In Wheaton a bus dropped off 40 passengers at the Metra Station at 4 p.m.

In West Chicago, Ward 2 Alderman Heather Brown, a candidate for Illinois State Senate District 25, is demanding action to address the impact of illegal immigrant drop-offs.

Brown told the DuPage Policy Journal that Dupage County is crafting an ordinance to address the unannounced drop-offs and that West Chicago leaders were asked to hold off on passing local ordinances due to the countywide resolution expected from DuPage County’s elected officials.

“I’m trying to get a hold of people in the county and see what their plans are,” Brown told the DuPage Policy Journal.  

The drop-offs have occurred continually in the suburbs since Dec. 22, beginning after the City of Chicago imposed fines and threatened to impound non-compliant buses who drop off illegal immigrants in the city limits without prior notice.

The continuous nature of these drop-offs and the increasing numbers have prompted local authorities and communities to reevaluate their responses and consider additional measures to address the challenges associated with the influx of illegal immigrants.

Various municipalities have responded by passing ordinances similar to Chicago's, restricting the options available to bus operators for such drop-offs.

During a Hinsdale Village Board meeting where drop-offs were prohibited, officials reported being notified by a bus driver that such occurrences were expected to continue through March.

The frequency of daily drop-offs throughout the state has varied, often exceeding 10 instances and, at times, approaching 800 people per day.

Airplanes carrying hundreds of illegal immigrants have also been landing at the Chicago Rockford International Airport, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing situation.