Venezuelan Refugees Moved Out Of Burr Ridge, Relocated To Cook County

BURR RIDGE, IL — Following a week that included 64 asylum-seekers being housed at a Burr Ridge hotel and a terse back-and-forth exchange between Mayor Gary Grasso and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, all of the refugees have been moved to an unknown Cook County hotel as of Sunday, the mayor said.

Grasso announced the move on Sunday in a community alert to local residents. He said that the Venezuelan refugees have been moved to a Cook County hotel, but that as was the case when the group first arrived, state officials did not alert village officials that the refugees were being moved.

Grasso said that the village received a “courtesy call” from the DuPage County Board of Health about a possible move was taking place. Health officials then confirmed the move was taking place as it was in progress, Grasso wrote.

“Why the State would inform the county but not the Village is unknown, as there has been no need for DBOH services during the refugee stay in the Village and they are being moved to Cook County,” Grasso wrote. “We understand the state initially did not know that the Hampton Inn was in DuPage County and may have decided to move the refugees to a location in Cook County. The State’s first announcement about the refugees coming here was based on a coordinated action with Cook County and the City of Chicago, so that may be the reason.”

Grasso said that hotel staff at the Hampton Inn were alerted Friday to the fact that a move may be taking place. However, when Grasso contacted the state on Sunday to ask about a possible move, he said no final decision had been made about moving the refugees but that discussions were taking place.

“I asked to be kept apprised; (state officials) promised to do so, but has not,” Grasso wrote.

Grasso wrote to residents on Sunday that the refugees have been well-taken care of while at the Hampton Inn. Many residents and local organizations offered assistance by providing necessities, job recommendations, and suggestions for places where for the refugees to attend church.

Grasso wrote that in his letter to Pritzker last week, he made a point to said that how the state’s representative on-site at the Hampton Inn had told him. that the Village really "came through" in welcoming the refugees. In a letter replying to Grasso’s demand for an apology for earlier comments, Pritzker said he appreciated the village’s efforts to be accommodating, but also alleged that Grasso and the village had created an unwelcoming environment.

Grasso has said in the past couple of weeks that he does not expect more refugees will be assigned to Burr Ridge, but he wishes the ones who were here the best.

“There have been no calls upon village services during the refugees' stay here,” the mayor wrote on Sunday. “And we continue to wish them the best in their quest for freedom and a better life in the United States.”