>>> CHICAGO IS FACING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS BECAUSE OF A NEW SURGE OF MIGRANTS ALONG THE SOUTHERN STATE.

IMMIGRANTS BEGAN ARRIVING IN CHICAGO IN AUGUST AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE FALL.

HERE IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TODAY.

>> WE AIM TO SHOW IT IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

IT REQUIRES ACTION.

MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND COMPASSION.

>> HEATHER, WHY HAS IT REACHED A CRISIS LEVEL NOW?

>> WELL, MORE MIGRANTS STARTED ARRIVING ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO.

EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY HAS RECEDED FROM THE HEADLINES THE CITY SHELTER HAS BEEN AT CAPACITY SINCE THE SURGE IN THE FALL.

SO, WHEN THE NEW MIGRANTS STARTED ARRIVING THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO AND THEY WERE STARTING TO BE FORCED TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR IN POLICE STATIONS >> THEY RECEIVED $20 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING.

HOW MUCH MORE DOES THE CITY NEED?

>> SIGNIFICANTLY MORE.

IT WILL COST THE CITY MORE THAN $150 MILLION DOLLARS AND THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE POTENTIALLY MORE IF MORE ARRIVE.

SO, THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE HEARING WAS THE FIRST THAT LEARNED THAT THEY WILL BE ASKED TO EARMARK $53 MILLION FROM THE CITY'S SURPRISE SURPLUS TO CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS BECAUSE MONEY FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN COMING.

>> OKAY.

ALDERMAN LOPEZ WAS ONE OF THE MANY WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS TO HELP THESE IMMIGRANTS.

>> WE HAVE, AGAIN, MINORS IN THESE LOCATIONS.

IN A PLACE THAT IS INTIMATE.

WHAT IS A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HOUSING?

>> ON THE FLOOR OF POLICE STATIONS, AS YOU SAID, IS THERE A PLAN TO HELP THE IMMIGRANTS?

>> THERE IS NOT A PLAN.

THE CITY'S SHELTER IS AT CAPACITY.

THERE ARE 3,000 BEDS SET ASIDE FOR IMMIGRANTS ON TOP OF THE CITY'S REGULAR SHELTER SYSTEM THAT HAS 3,000 BEDS.

AS OF THIS MORNING THERE WERE FIVE BEDS AVAILABLE FOR MEN, SIX AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN AND NO BEDS AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES WHICH IS WHY THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE POLICE STATIONS ARE PRIMARILY FAMILIES WHO LITERALLY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO AND NOTHING MORE THAN THE CLOTHS ON THEIR BACKS THAT THEY