A new policy demanding that all illegal immigrants in Chicago receive the measles vaccine before entering publicly-owned shelters has gone into effect as authorities step up efforts to contain the disease.
However, authorities have met resistance from a large number of illegal immigrants who are refusing to be vaccinated.
In response, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker requested the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist local officials in ensuring that illegal immigrants who are hesitant or refuse to get the vaccine would comply with the order.
The city also placed over 100 illegal immigrants in quarantine who were believed to have been exposed to the disease.
‘Massive Operation’
“This is a massive operation and I thank our many partners who are assisting with it and the new arrivals for understanding the need to get vaccinated and quarantine. As long as measles circulates in Chicago, we will continue to take a proactive approach to protecting as many people as we can from this highly infectious disease,” said Mr. Ige in a statement.“Vaccination remains by far the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles. New arrivals and all Chicagoans should get the MMR vaccine if they haven’t already.”
The outbreak comes as many of Chicago’s illegal immigrants confront a Saturday deadline to move out of their shelter, as the city will begin enforcing a 60-day shelter stay limit. The initial evictions began on Saturday, with the immigrants then having the option to go back to the city’s migrant landing zone to reapply for shelter.
Chicago has maintained its status as a sanctuary city since 1985, when former Mayor Harold Washington issued an executive order. The order became law in 2006 when city officials were directed not to ask about immigration status, disclose that information to federal authorities, or deny city services depending on citizenship status.
Nearly 12,000 illegal immigrants are spread out over 23 shelters throughout the city, with more continuing to arrive daily.
As recently as five years ago, measles cases were believed to have been a dark relic of the city’s past. Since 2019, the state of Illinois had not reported a single measles case until last year, when five incidents were registered. CDPH claimed an increasing number of measles cases have been identified nationwide and worldwide in recent months “due to lower vaccination coverage.”
‘An Outrage’
However, critics claim that this most recent measles outbreak is another example of the city’s left-leaning policies that have eroded the quality of life for legal citizens at the expense of those who break the law to enter the country.Tyrone Muhammad, executive director of ECCSC, a Chicago-based group promoting social change, told The Epoch Times that Chicagoans should be the first priority and are in dire need of the limited resources being delegated to illegals.
“It’s clear to me that from the government perspective that they are saying to us openly is that it is okay for black children to die, to be de-invested, to lack education, so long as we continue to send our resources to non-citizens,” said Mr. Muhammad.
“The people here have grown tired of seeing every foreigner, every non-citizen, every illegal provided billions of dollars in funding while the people who built this city are struggling to put food on the table,” he continued.
“It is an outrage. Our people keep watching the city find money to give rent, food, housing, [and] transportation to migrants when our own children no longer feel welcome in this city,” he added.
