Burr Ridge Migrants Show 'Perfect Behavior': Mayor

BURR RIDGE, IL – The 64 migrants in Burr Ridge's Hampton Inn are all from Venezuela, the mayor said Monday.

They were bused by the state to the village last Wednesday. Led by a socialist dictator, Venezuela has seen its standard of living plunge over the last couple of decades.

Patch visited Hampton Inn early Monday evening. About two dozen people were in the dining room and lobby – most of them women and children.

Two private security guards were on hand.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Mayor Gary Grasso spoke about the migrants.

"They have been given asylum-seeking status, which I understand is temporary. That will require court proceedings. I don't know if they will be held in Illinois or Texas," Grasso said.

They are among the refugees that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been busing to New York City, Washington and now Chicago. They were allowed in the country by the federal government.

Grasso has criticized the state for not informing the village beforehand about the arrival of the migrants. But he told the board that his issue is not with the migrants themselves.

"They have been of perfect behavior," he said.

Grasso said they are seeking freedom from the same or worse conditions as the immigrants from whom many Burr Ridge residents descended.

He said he was proud that the migrants will always remember their first experience with freedom was in Burr Ridge.

The mayor said he has visited the Hampton Inn twice since the migrants arrived.

"I have observed that they are well-groomed, well-behaved," he said. "I have been told that there are no health issues with them."

Grasso said he asked around about why the migrants were taken to Hampton Inn. He said he found out the state has a relationship with a hotel association and has used that group to find places that would accept migrants.

In February, several Afghan refugees stayed for a short time at the Hampton Inn, which the village only found about recently, he said.

Village Trustee Guy Franzese said residents are coming together to provide clothing, toiletries and other essentials to the migrants. But he said he was disappointed the state gave no notice.

"We could have had that prepared ahead of time, but we didn't," Franzese said. "So now we're scrambling to help these people with these basic needs. I know my neighbors are. I'm glad that they are and proud that they are. We're all coming together."