Hinsdale Cracks Down On Migrant Buses

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale is the latest Chicago suburb to enact regulations to deal with buses carrying migrants into town.

Since Dec. 22, Texas has directed 11 unannounced buses carrying an average of 45 migrants to the village, Village President Tom Cauley said Tuesday.

The passengers are then taken to the Hinsdale train station, with their tickets already paid for, Cauley said.

He spoke at a special Village Board meeting specifically scheduled to pass the bus rules.

During the meeting, residents expressed concern about migrants spreading illnesses and causing dangers to children downtown. One woman said she saw two migrants wearing ankle bracelets.

The new rules require bus companies carrying migrants to give the village five days' notice by filling out an application.

If a bus company violates the regulations, the village can charge it $750 per passenger or impound the vehicle.

The buses have been coming to the suburbs since Chicago enacted similar rules last month.

"We were initially told that the inflow of buses to Hinsdale would last seven days, but we have recently been advised by a bus driver that unless we do something, these buses will keep coming unannounced at least through March if our southern border continues to remain open," Cauley said.

He said he worried migrants may be taken to town after the last train of the night has left for Chicago.

"The migrants could be stranded in Hinsdale all night," Cauley said. "Hinsdale does not have the resources to handle such situations."

He said he had no interest in debating the migrant policies of Chicago, Texas or the federal government. Hinsdale, he said, has limited jurisdiction.

During public comments, when an unidentified woman asked why Hinsdale would not just ban the buses, Cauley said he did not know whether that would be constitutional.

The woman then said that when she was riding the train in the morning, a man with his daughter spoke about his thoughts on the migrants.

"He was very concerned that (his daughter) was going to contract an illness that migrants or illegals – whatever you want to call them – have brought along," the woman said.

Hinsdale resident Michelle Ptak said she took a video of the migrants and spotted two men wearing ankle bracelets.

"I was told it was for monitoring, but for whom?" she asked. "I would like to know who those two men who were coming through town and if they were criminals and why are we transporting criminals with children."

Another resident, Cheryl Zimmer, said she was concerned about the danger that migrants may pose to children downtown.

"You're talking 7- and 8-year-olds," she said. "This has to be buttoned down somewhere."

The Village Board unanimously enacted the regulations.