JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE IS SENTENCED IN COURT TODAY.

WE HAVE A LIVE REPORT FROM THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.

2 YEARS AGO.

SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE IMPACT TODAY.

AND 5 ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO JURY TO CHICAGO ARE PROFILED IN THE NEW W T TW DIGITAL SERIES FIRSTHAND HOMELESS.

THE MIGRANT EXPERIENCE.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, CHICAGO POLICE OFFICIALS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE WAY THE DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO HANDLE PROTESTS DURING THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN AUGUST.

THE DEPARTMENT'S PREVIOUS MASS ARREST POLICY HAD COME UNDER SCRUTINY FROM A COALITION OF POLICE REFORM GROUPS WHO SAY THE ORIGINAL VERSION VIOLATED PROTESTERS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.

OFFICIALS TOLD WBTW NEWS THAT UNDER THE REVISED PLAN OFFICERS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ARRESTING PEOPLE ENGAGED IN FIRST AMENDMENT PROTEST FOR QUOTE, MINOR OR PETTY OFFENSE IS OR FOR ACTIONS THAT POSE NO IMMEDIATE THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR PROPERTY.

THE ACLU OF ILLINOIS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE COALITION SAYS WHILE IT DOES NOT ENDORSE THIS NEW POLICY, IT IS SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT FOR MORE ON THAT, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

MEANWHILE, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS OFFICIALLY MOVING INTO THE UNITED CENTER TODAY TO START PREPPING FOR THE BIG EVENT.

JUST 8 WEEKS AWAY.

IT'S THE SAME SPOT THAT HOSTED THE 1996 CONVENTION WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WAS NOMINATED FOR REELECTION.

WE'RE LEARNING EACH DAY.

HOW TO BUILD A CONVENTION.

IF ANYONE TELLS YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUILDING BEFORE, BUT THIS CONVENTION WILL BE DIFFERENT.

IT WILL BE EXCITING.

THE DNC SAYS TODAY TODAY'S MOVE MARKS A KEY MILESTONE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.

CREWS WERE SEEN ON THE FLOOR OF THE CENTER TRANSFORMING WHAT IS TYPICALLY A SPORTS ARENA INTO A CONVENTION HALL FOR THE CONVENTIONS.

PRIME TIME PROGRAMMING.

COOK COUNTY AND CHICAGO OFFICIALS ARE REMEMBERING COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER DAN U.S. DEAR TODAY, DEER DIED ON SUNDAY.

HE REPRESENTED THE SECOND DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY SINCE 2017.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE WEST SIDE WHERE HE CONTINUED TO LIVE WITH HIS WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN.

HIS DEATH WAS ANNOUNCED ON SOCIAL MEDIA COUNTY BOARD.

PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE SAID, QUOTE, HE WAS A FIERCE CHAMPION OF EQUITY IN EVERY SPACE HE ENTERED IN ADDITION TO SERVING ON THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, HE WAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINICIAN BY TRAINING HIS EXPERTISE, GUIDANCE AND COMMANDING VOICE MADE US ALL BETTER AND WERE CRITICAL IN HIS ROLE AS VICE CHAIR OF THE COOK COUNTY HEALTH BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, WHO SERVED WITH FEAR WHEN THEY WERE BOTH ON THE COUNTY BOARD.

REMEMBER HIM AS AMONG OTHER THINGS, A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED DEER WAS 51 YEARS OLD.

THERE'S NO WORD ON HIS CAUSE OF DEATH, BUT THE FAMILY SAYS THEY WILL SHARE MORE DETAILS SOON AND REQUEST PRIVACY AT THIS TIME.

UP NEXT INDICTED FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE HAS BEEN HIT WITH PRISON TIME AND A HEFTY FINE.

HEATHER SHARON WITH THAT STORY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

2 YEARS AND 2 MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S THE SENTENCE A FEDERAL JUDGE HANDED DOWN TO FORMER ALDERMAN ED BURKE 2 YEARS IN PRISON AND A 2 MILLION DOLLAR FINE.

A LIGHTER THAN EXPECTED SENTENCE FOR THE MAN WHO WAS ONCE THE MOST POWERFUL ELECTED OFFICIAL IN CHICAGO.

BURKE IS NOW CONVICTED OF OPERATING AT CITY HALL LIKE A MAFIA.

DON, SHAKING DOWN THOSE WHO NEEDED HELP FROM THEIR ELECTED LEADERS.

W T TW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW FROM THE DIRKSEN FEDERAL COURTHOUSE WHERE SHE WAS IN THE COURTROOM WHEN BOURKE WAS SENTENCED.

HEATHER, TAKE US INSIDE THAT COURTROOM WHEN THE SENTENCE CAME DOWN.

WELL, WHEN BURKE WAS LISTENING TO US DISTRICT COURT, JUDGE VIRGINIA KENDALL HAND DOWN HIS SENTENCE.

HE SHOWED NO VISIBLE EMOTION AS SHE WENT THROUGH THE VARIOUS OFFENSES.

HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF WHICH INCLUDE RACKETEERING, ATTEMPTED EXTORTION, ATTEMPTED BRIBERY IN ALL 13 COUNTS OF CRIMES.

NOW, HIS WIFE, FORMER ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANNE BURKE DID SHOW EMOTION.

SHE SOBBED UNCONTROLLABLY AS THE JUDGE READ OUT THE SENTENCE, WHICH WAS MUCH LIGHTER THAN ANYBODY EXPECTED GOING INTO THIS.

WE ALSO HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM ED BURKE IN HIS OWN WORDS, MORE THAN 5 YEARS AFTER FEDERAL OFFICIALS RAIDED HIS CITY HALL OFFICES.

HE EXPRESSED REGRET FOR CAUSING HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS PAIN.

AND HE SAID THE END OF HIS STORIED CAREER, THAT BLAME LIES ONLY WITH HIM.

TRULY A DRAMATIC MOMENT TO AND HEADED.

PROSECUTORS URGED THE JUDGE TO SENTENCE BIRTH TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

HIS ATTORNEYS ASKED FOR HOME CONFINEMENT.

HOW DID THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT?

JUDGE VIRGINIA KENDALL SETTLE THOSE 2 YEARS?

WELL, SHE SAID SHE STRIVED TO STRIKE A MIDDLE GROUND, ENCOURAGED MOSTLY BY THE HUNDREDS OF LETTERS THAT SENT WERE SENT INTO THE COURT IN ADVANCE OF TODAY'S SENTENCING.

BUT SHE SAID SHE DISREGARDED THE LETTERS FROM DOT, THE POWERFUL AND THE HIGH PROFILE AND INSTEAD FOCUSED ON THE LETTERS FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BURKE'S 14TH WARD ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE AND SAID HE WAS THERE FOR THEM WHEN THEY NEEDED HIM ON THE WORST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.

WHEN A RELATIVE WAS DEAD, A JOB WAS LOST.

ED BURKE, THEY SAID WAS THERE WITH THE CONSOLING HUG MONEY IF THEY NEEDED IT, HELP GETTING A JOB, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY NEEDED OR SIMPLY HIS PRAYERS.

NOW, IT WAS TRULY AN AMAZING MOMENT AS KENDALL SORT OF SEEMED A LITTLE BIT OVERCOME BY THE EMOTION THAT SHE READ IN THESE LETTERS.

AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THE DEFENSE'S STRATEGY OF PAINTING A MORE HOLISTIC PICTURE OF THE FORMER POW, POWERFUL POLITICIAN AT CITY HALL PAID OFF IN JUST 2 YEARS OF PRISON TIME AS WELL AS THAT HEFTY FINE.

HEATHER PROSECUTORS URGED THE JUDGE TO USE BERG SENTENCE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO OTHER POLITICIANS WHO MIGHT ALSO TEMPTED TO BREAK THE LAW.

DO WE KNOW IF THE JUDGE TOOK THAT INTO CONSIDERATION?

SHE SAID SHE DID.

SHE SAID THAT ITS CRIMES LIKE BURKE, THAT WEAKEN THE FABRIC OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR REGULAR PEOPLE TO TRUST IN THE RULE OF LAW.

BUT SHE SAID THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO INDICATION STUFF SENTENCE FOR BURKE WOULD HAVE ANY OTHER IMPACT ON POLITICIANS WHO ARE CONSIDERING USING THEIR PUBLIC OFFICE TO ENRICH THEMSELVES.

SHE SAID IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITHOUT AN ANSWER.

HEATHER BURKE ALSO FACES THAT 2 MILLION DOLLAR AND THE LOSS OF HIS PENSION.

HOW MUCH MIGHT THAT HURT HIM?

SO LOSS OF HIS PENSION IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT HE COULD WRITE A CHECK FOR THAT 2 MILLION DOLLAR FINE TODAY.

WE KNOW FROM FEDERAL COURT RECORDS THAT HE HAS A NET WORTH OF MORE THAN 30 MILLION DOLLARS.

IN ADDITION, HE HAS 8 MILLION DOLLARS LEFT OVER IN HIS CAMPAIGN FINANCE FUNDS.

THAT, OF COURSE, WAS A MASK OVER DECADES, AS HE SAID AS HE CONSOLIDATED HIS POWER IN CITY HALL, ANDRES MONEY ACROSS THE CITY.

OKAY.

SOUNDS LIKE THE 2 YEARS IN PRISON.

OBVIOUSLY MUCH MORE UPSETTING TO HIS WIFE, STATE SUPREME COURT AND BURKE HAD A THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS.

AND JUST YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTTA W DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

UP NEXT, MARKING 2 YEARS SINCE THE DOBBS DECISION.

A LOOK AT THE IMPACT.

STAY WITH US.

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND SEARCH OF ABORTION CARE IN THE 2 YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT'S DOBBS DECISION OVERTURNED THE 50 YEAR ROE VERSUS WADE RULING PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS SAYS 25% OF ITS PATIENTS ARE FROM OUT OF STATE COMPARED TO ABOUT 4%.

PRETTY DOBBS WHILE CLINIC SAY THEY WERE PREPARED FOR THE INFLUX, THE FUTURE OF ALL REPRODUCTIVE CARE IS STILL UNDER THREAT.

JOINING US NOW ARE MICHELLE THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF HOPE CLINIC IN GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS JOCELYN GUILD, THE ASSISTANT HEALTH CENTER MANAGER FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS IN FLOSS MORE AND LESLIE, MORE HICKS, THE ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS IN WAUKEGAN.

THANKS TO ALL 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START BY ASKING EACH OF YOU WHAT YOUR CLINICS HAS HAD TO DO OR HAVE HAD TO DO TO IN THESE LAST 2 YEARS.

LESLIE, MORE HICKS OF START WITH YOU.

PLEASE.

I THANK YOU VERY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ADAPTED VERY WELL INCREASING A LOT OF OUR SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

PART OF THAT ALSO INCLUDE OPEN OUR CARBONDALE LOCATION.

I'M JUST LOOKING TO SPEAK MORE TO THE EXPENSIVE THAT THE LOST TERMS OF MAKING ACCESS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF OUR MORRISON PATIENTS.

JOCELYN, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

YEAH.

SO HERE'S SPECIFICALLY AT THE LAST LOW.

JOHNSON.

SORRY, I'M AFRAID.

I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE LOST YOUR AUDIO HARD.

ARE TO SO KIND OF LIKE LESLIE MENTIONED, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR SERVICES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASE IN PATIENTS THAT WE HAVE SO WE'VE INCREASED FROM 2 ABORTION DAYS TO NOW 4.

AND THAT IS BOTH FOR THE MEDICATION AND THE IM PROCEDURAL ABORTION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE INCREASED STAFFING TO ALSO BETTER ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASE IN PATIENTS.

AND MICHELLE'S IN QUESTION TO YOU ABOUT WHAT YOUR CLINIC HAS HAD TO DO TO ADAPT TO THIS INFLUX.

I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING HEALTH CLINIC PROVIDING ABORTION CARE IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SINCE 1974.

FOR THE THE YEARS.

WE'VE DEFINITELY HAD TO ADAPT A LOT OF CHANGES, BUT POST DOGS QUICKLY WE'VE SIMILAR AS POSSIBLE.

LESLIE BOTH SPECIFICALLY WE ADDED ON ENTIRE CLINIC.

SO WE INCREASED CLEAR DAYS FROM TO 6 DAYS A WE DO OFF THE MEDICATION CLINIC ABORTIONS ALL OF DAYS WELL AS INCREASED OUR STAFFING I-40 1%.

JOCELYN GO BACK TO OF COURSE, YOU ALL DID A LOT OF PREP IN ANTICIPATION OF THE DOBBS DECISION LEADING UP TO IT BEFORE THE DECISION ACTUALLY CAME DOWN.

OF COURSE, 2 YEARS AGO.

WAS THAT ENOUGH FOR WAS, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ANTICIPATED ENOUGH AS IT TURNED OUT THE WAY YOU PLANNED FOR.

I WOULD SAY SO OTHER THAN THE INCREASE IN THE DAYS THAT WE'VE HAD TO ADD ON TO THE ABORTION DAYS, I WOULD SAY SO.

WE HAD WE'VE HAD SUFFICIENT STAFFING TO ALLOW US TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASE IN PATIENTS.

AND ALSO WE HAVE A LOVELY IT'S A ABORTION TRAVEL TEAM THAT ASSISTS US IN ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS TO KIND OF FILL IN THOSE GAPS ON THE DAYS THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFFING.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT AND A BIG PART OF BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS INCREASE IN PATIENTS.

MICHELLE, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT SOME OF THE UNINTENDED THAT THIS HAS HAD ON PATIENTS?

WELL, I'M GETTING OVER.

80 1% OF OUR KIDS COME FROM OUT OF WE SEE PATIENTS FROM 28 DIFFERENT STATES AND 4 DIFFERENT 2023.

THAT WAS THAT THAT THAT WAS THE FOR AND THAT DEFINITELY TAKEN A LOT A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM OUR STAFF.

RESULT HAS UP WORKING WITH THESE PATIENTS AS WELL AS WORKING WITH PRACTICAL SUPPORT FUNDS AND ABORTION FUNDS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NOT ONLY ACCESS HERE IN GRANITE CITY, BUT EQUITABLE ACCESS IN ORDER TO REMOVE BARRIERS SUCH AS FINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT TRAVEL BARRIERS FOLLOWED.

SEEMS LIKE THAT THAT GO ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO TRAVEL SO FAR.

I PEOPLE'S STATE TO OBTAIN ABORTION CARE.

LESLIE, MORE HICKS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALSO BEEN TREATING PATIENTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO ACCESS GENDER, AFFIRMING CARE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RISKS THAT THEY FACE BY NOT HAVING EASY ACCESS TO THAT CARE?

THE RISKS THEY FACE A IN AND THE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN SEE THOSE RISKS OF ONTO OUR ABORTION PATIENTS.

WHAT WE KNOW IS PATIENTS INTO ACTION GETTING THE MEDICATIONS THAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE ON THEIR TRANSFORMATION.

JOURNEY.

IT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC, EVEN EVEN FROM A MENTAL HEALTH STANDPOINT AS WELL FROM A PHYSICAL STANDPOINT.

SO A LOT OF OUR PATIENTS DO RELY ON TABLE TO STAY ON THESE MEDICATIONS IN A TIMELY FASHION AND EVEN OUR NEWER PATIENTS THAT ARE LOOKING TO START IN TRANSITION PROCESS, WOULD LIKE TO ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT THE RUNNING INTO BARRIERS MAKING THAT ACTING THESE MEDICATIONS IN THEIR HOME STATES.

AND JOCELYN, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THAT PATIENTS ARE FACING NOW?

POST DOBBS?

I THINK YOU'VE HAD TO AT LEAST ONE PATIENT, BUT SOME WHO HAD TO GET TOO MANY HURDLES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE?

YEAH, SOME OF EARLY TO WHAT MICHELLE STATED EARLIER TRAVEL.

I'M WORKING ON NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE TIME OFF CHILD CARE ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES OF LODGING, TOO.

THOSE ARE ALL OF THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

AND THANKFULLY WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES PROGRAMS TO HELP THESE PATIENTS.

BUT FOR SURE, I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST BARRIERS FOR US.

LESLIE, ARE YOU ALSO ARE YOU SEEING PATIENTS THAT ARE ON FARTHER ALONG IN THEIR PREGNANCIES?

MAYBE IT'S TAKEN THEM A WHILE TO SORT OF GATHER THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEEDED TO MAKE THE TRIP OR ARE THEY IN MORE, YOU KNOW, SEVERE HEALTH CONDITIONS SOMETIMES.

I DON'T WE ACTUALLY SEE A LOT OF FUN ALONG THE CONTINUUM.

WE SEE THEM IS EARLY AS 6 WEEKS.

FAR YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THE 22 WEEKS THAT WE OFFER HERE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS.

BUT WE DO HAVE SERVICES IN PLACE TO ASSIST THOSE PATIENTS.

WITH OTHER PARTNERSHIPS, HIGHLIGHT AS WELL AS OTHER PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS AND EVEN SOME OUT OF STATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL TAKE PATIENTS EVEN FURTHER ALONG IN THEIR PREGNANCIES.

SO WE DO VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORSEN.

NAVIGATORS TO HELP OUR PATIENTS THE MINUTE THEY CALL WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY FOR THOSE PATIENTS TO BE SEEN.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HEALTH IMPACTS ON A PATIENT WHO'S HAD TO TO WAIT?

DOES THAT MAKE THEIR CASE IS A BIT RISKIER?

TAKEN TO A CERTAIN GESTATIONAL AGE.

BECOMES INTO PROCEDURE FOR A LOT OF OUR PATIENTS.

AND SO ALSO KIND OF AND MICHELLE NEWELL SAYING HOW THE DIRECTION THAT THEY LOCATIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LODGING ARE GOING FIGHT.

CAN DEFINITELY IMPACT FOR JUST STATION THAT THEY SOME OF THE HEALTH CONCERNS SOME PEOPLE HAVE HEALTH CONCERNS THAT MAY NOT THAT MAY BE CONTRA INDICATED TO USING JUST THE HILLS AND THEY MAY HAVE TO GET A PROCESS THEIR TERMINATIONS.

AND SO WE TAKE ALL OF CONSIDERATIONS WITH ALL OF OUR PATIENTS EQUALLY.

OKAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE I WANT TO THANK THE 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

LESLIE, MORE HICKS JASON GAIL AND MICHELLE THANK YOU.

BEST OF LUCK TO UP NEXT, WBTW NEWS DIGITAL SERIES FIRSTHAND RETURNS WITH AN INSIDE LOOK AT CHICAGO'S MIGRANT EXPERIENCE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

IN THE PAST 2 YEARS, NEARLY 44,000 MIGRANTS HAVE MAYBE LONG ARDUOUS JOURNEY FROM THEIR HOME COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA TO CHICAGO.

THE NEW W T TW DIGITAL SERIES FIRSTHAND HOMELESS.

THE MIGRANT EXPERIENCE FOLLOWS 5 ASYLUM SEEKERS ON THEIR WAYS TO FINDING HOUSING EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND A BETTER LIFE.

HERE'S A LOOK.

A DIFFERENT THEMES MEET THOSE SAY, LOOK, CAN YOU SEE PEOPLE SPEND MONEY AT TIME AS WE GET INTO MEETING?

WAS FEW LEFT.

IS THE END THIS HUMAN A FEW CAN HE'S GOOD KIDS.

AND JOINING US IS AT BREVARD AS PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OF FIRSTHAND HOMELESS.

THE MIGRANT EXPERIENCE AGREE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR INVITATION.

SO WE JUST WATCHED THE CLIP, OF COURSE IN SILOAM SEEKER FROM ECUADOR'S NAME IS CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT HIS STORY?

AND THAT IS 7 AT THE MISSION AT SAINT EDMUND'S CHURCH IN PARK.

PART OF ENTERPRISING THESE STORIES WAS TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MANY OF THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY COMMITTED TO DO THE STORIES AFTER A FEW DAYS, THEY WOULD JUST SAY NO.

SO I JUST DECIDED I WOULD HANG OUT AT THE AT THE MISSION AND WITH THE HELP OF ONE OF VOLUNTEERS, CELINE WAS NNEKA.

SHE GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE 7 THE ATTACK TO USE RATHER TOM.

I WANTED TO DO IT DOCUMENTARY ON THEIR LIFE.

STARTING HERE IN CHICAGO WAS JUST TO GET TO KNOW.

JUST HOW YOU DOING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?

AND BECAUSE I THINK AS YOU KNOW, IT'S IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE AGAIN, SOMEONE'S TRUST.

AND I NEEDED THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TELL THE STORIES.

THERE'S ALSO A STORY OF WHO SAY A FAMILY MAN.

HE'S WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FOLLOWED HIM WITH HIS KIDS TO THE BARBER AND BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET THEIR HAIR CUT, OF COURSE, TO LOOK GOOD.

THE DAY BEFORE THEIR IMMIGRATION HEARING, WHICH WAS THE NEXT DAY WHERE, YOU KNOW, HEADING IN, HE'S HE'S CLEARLY A BIT NERVOUS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT DAY AND SORT OF HELPING HIM?

DID YOU KNOW, DID YOU FIND YOURSELF HELPING HIM NAVIGATE THE HAIRCUTS WERE DONE ON TUESDAY AND IT IMMIGRATION.

COURT APPEARANCE WAS ON WEDNESDAY AND I COULD TELL MY SAY WHAT'S WRONG.

AND HE SAID HE GOES WELL AND HE'S NERVOUS.

YOU KNOW, HE GOES EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TOMORROW IS THE BEGINNING OF REST OF SO I SAID, DON'T WORRY ABOUT I'M GOING TO GO IN THERE GRATION COURT AND MEET YOU.

JUST KNOW THAT THEY WILL NOT MEAN CAN OK, GONNA GO THEM.

AGREE TO MAKE SURE YOU PARK AND GET YOU AS FAR AS I CAN TAKE FORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU GET TO IMMIGRATION COURT, THERE BILINGUAL ASSISTANCE AND THEY TELL YOU, WELL, YOU CAN'T GO BEYOND THIS POINT.

ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT APPEAR IN COURT.

SO THAT HELPED THEM A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK I GUESS IT LESSEN THE STRESS OF HIM ARRIVING, BUT NOT THE STRESS OF ACTUALLY APPEARING BEFORE A JUDGE, JUST YOUR PRESENCE.

AND AND OF COURSE, AS A JOURNALIST, A DOCUMENTARIAN, IT'S PROBABLY A FINE LINE BETWEEN AM I GETTING INVOLVED HERE INSISTING, RIGHT VERSUS, YOU KNOW, TELLING A STORY JUST BEING A GOOD PERSON, RIGHT?

WELL, I JUST I JUST KNOW EVERY TIME YOU HAVE TO GO TO DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU PARK, YOU KNOW, AND JUST NAVIGATING EVER, CHICAGO SO AS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS HELPFUL FOR HIM.

SO I WANT PLAY ANOTHER CLIP FROM THE SERIES.

THIS ONE FEATURES WHO MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO TRAVEL TO CHICAGO WITHOUT 2 OF HER CHILDREN.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THAT.

WE SEE A MINNESOTA THEN DO.

MAKING THE MOUNTAINSIDE IN NATO.

SEE OUT AND SAID THAT, THEN YOU GET THE ITEM MEAN, I THINK GUY THAT THEY WILL NOT NEW OKLAHOMAN WITH, BUT I DOUBT KIDS ALSO HAVE TOLD ME, BUT APPEAL CAN ABOUT FOR GET A TIME AND A HALF.

A BABY, AND SO BOTH EMILY'S CASE AS WELL AS THAT OF JOSE WAS WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, FOR THOSE WHO WATCH THE ENTIRETY OF OF EMILY'S STORY, YOU SEE HOW HARD FOLKS ARE WORKING TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THEM.

WHAT IS WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

WHAT DID PICK UP ON THAT THEME AS WELL?

I DID.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE THE DIGNITY LOOKING FOR.

THE THE SPIRIT THAT THERE, THAT PAIN THAT THEY HAVE.

THEY'RE HARD WORKERS.

SURE, BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE WORKING FOR THEIR FAMILY.

THEY'RE WORKING FOR A BETTER LIFE.

YOU KNOW, OF THE AGAIN OF THE SEVERAL OF WATCH THAT THEY'RE ALSO VERY THANKFUL TO BE YOU KNOW, DESPITE YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE SEEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR CONDITIONS ONCE THEY ARRIVE, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM LIVING IN SHELTERS AND THE SERIES IS FIRSTHAND HOMELESS.

THE MIGRANT EXPERIENCE AND THANKFULLY MOST OF THEM ARE SHELTERED OR HAVE I'M A HOME THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDE, THEIR, YOU VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE IN ABOUT WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

THE THEY TRULY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE THEY ARRIVE TO THE ALREADY WENT 6, 6, COUNTRIES.

SO IF THEY WERE GOING TO FEEL HATE OR RACISM, THEY ARE READY EXPERIENCE THAT FOR MANY OF THEM.

THE JOURNEY THROUGH MEXICO WAS THE HARDEST AND EVEN SEEING THE THE EMILY CLIP, EVEN THOUGH I WAS THERE, IT'S STILL EMOTIONAL.

IT'S STILL, I AT THE THESE REAL PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES WITH DO YOU THINK PEOPLE HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF OF THE MIGRANT EXPERIENCE ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE NEW ARRIVALS?

I THINK IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO TALK TO THE MIGRANTS ARE TO WATCH THESE STORIES AND NOT NOT JAMES LEE PROMOTING IT.

IT'S JUST YOU HAVE TO.

THAT'S HOW YOU UNDERSTAND PEOPLE.

YOU TALK TO I SAID I THOUGHT WAS TIONG YOUR PRODUCER.

IT'S INTERESTING IN CHICAGO, WE CALL CITY OF IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANTS AND THAT WE KNOW EACH OTHER BY FOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE SUCH AN IDENTITY TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THIS NEW WAVE THESE PEOPLE ARE NO DIFFERENT.

EMILY AND HER STORY, YOU'LL FIND THAT YOU MAKES A LITTLE MONEY COOKING FOOD OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTERS ARE AT A HOME AND SELLING IT OUTSIDE THE SHELTERS.

SHE'S A VERY GOOD COOK.

SHE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO TO SHARE HER SOUP WITHOUT AND SOME BUS.

IT LOOK DELICIOUS WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH ESTABLISHING AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WERE SOME OF THEM A BIT MISTRUSTFUL OF SOMEONE LIKE YOU YOU KNOW, SHOWS UP AND WANTS TO TELL STORY.

WITHOUT A WE STARTED BY WE WE'RE DIDDLEY STARTED BY SHOWING UP WITH A CAMERA AND I KNEW THAT WASN'T GOING TO WORK BECAUSE RIGHT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE ON CAMERA.

AND THE LAST QUARTER OF OUR VIDEOTAPE IN OR YOU TAKING MY PICTURE.

I THINK IN THEIR OWN THERE ARE MISTRUSTFUL OF MEDIA AND I THINK COMING HERE AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVED AS A FEW MONTHS AGO, EVERYBODY WAS OUTSIDE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR INTENSE AND I THINK THAT'S WAS THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH NEWS MEDIA IN THE CITY, WHICH WHICH WE WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THE TIME.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

BUT OF COURSE, WE CAN DIRECT FOLKS TO SEE IT.

VARGAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE STORIES FROM FIRSTHAND HOMELESS.

THE MIGRANT EXPERIENCE AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH FIRSTHAND.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION PRESIDENT STACY DAVIS.

GATES JOINS US AS THE UNION'S CONTRACT NEARS EXPIRATION IN NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TALKING WITH SOME COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST ABOUT IDENTITY AND THE GENRE.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CAPTIONS MADE POSSIBLE BY AND LAW A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROUD SPONSOR PROGRAM THAT OFFERS ADVICE AND STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE PHYSICAL AND