Bus Carrying 90 Migrants From Texas Arrives In Elk Grove Village

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — Village officials said they were "forced to scramble" over the weekend to accommodate a busload carrying approximately 90 migrants who entered the United States at the Texas border and were subsequently sent to Elk Grove Village. The migrants were dropped off Saturday at La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Chicago O'Hare Airport, 1900 E Oakton St., according to a news release.

Officials said some of the migrants will stay at the hotel indefinitely while others may find shelter elsewhere.

"Job No. 1 for us is ensuring the health, safety and welfare of our residents and our entire community," Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said in a statement. "We will stay on top of this situation on their behalf, hold responsible agencies accountable, and manage this issue in a way that keeps our residents safe and well-informed."

Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending thousands of migrants, who he said crossed the border illegally into Texas, to Washington D.C., New York City and Chicago. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, along with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, have said they welcome the new arrivals.

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Elk Grove Village officials said they were informed by the State of Illinois at around 1:30 pm Friday that the bus was coming. The Village then sent a robocall to residents Saturday to inform them about the arrival of the migrants, according to the news release.

Officials said the news came with no prior notification that the State’s plan for welcoming migrants included sending them to hotels in suburban communities. According to the Village, there was no direction from state, county or City of Chicago authorities regarding how municipalities are expected to handle the "unanticipated situation."

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The Village said it now working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security to "gain a better understanding of myriad issues that have arisen."

Additional information is available on the Village's website here.