SERIES, WHY YOU CAN'T BUY A CAR IN ILLINOIS ON SUNDAY.

>>> NOW TO OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT.

A WTTW NEWS EXCLUSIVE.

HATCHING A PLAN TO MOVE 658 ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM LOCATIONS IN THE SUBURBS TO A NEW CENTRAL LOCATION IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

BUT THE PLAN IS ALREADY GETTING PUSHBACK FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS AND IMMIGRATION GROUPS WHO WORRY ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AWAITING THE MIGRANTS AT THE NEW SITE.

STATE HUMAN SERVICES OFFICIALS HAVE PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS PLAN FOR NOW AS THEY IRON OUT THE SPECIFICS.

THIS 100,000-SQUARE FOOT FORMER K-MART SITS VACANT AT THE CORNER OF PULASKI AND 71st STREETS ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE.

WTTW NEWS LEARNED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS PREPARING TO MOVE 658 RECENT MIGRANTS ARRIVALS INTO THE SITE FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER.

SOURCES TELL WTTW NEWS THE MIGRANTS, MOSTLY ASYLUM SEEKERS, WILL BE RELOCATED FROM THE SUBURBS WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY STAYING AT HOTELS.

ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS WE OBTAINED, THE SITE WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF ITS NEARBY RESOURCES, AND THAT IT IS A WELCOMING NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE NOT YET READY TO ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT.

IN A LETTER TO IDHS SECRETARY, GRACE HOWELL, LOCAL STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANGELICA GUERRERO SAYS SHE HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLAN.

UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PROPOSED MIGRANT SHELTER LOCATION AT 71st STREET AND PULASKI ROAD IS READY TO SAFELY HOUSE 658 MIGRANTS.

MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WHETHER THE FACILITY IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS SAFE HOUSING FOR THIS MANY PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PAUSE THE OPENING OF THE PROPOSED SITE AS WE WORK TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.

AND 23rd WARD SILVERMAN ECHOS SIMILAR RESERVATIONS.

AFTER BEING BRIEFED ON THE PENDING PLANS TO HOUSE MIGRANTS, I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HOUSED AT THIS LOCATION.

AMONG THOSE CONCERNS, IS THERE ENOUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AROUND THE AREA?

AND WILL THE MIGRANTS BE HOUSED INHUMANELY IN TENTS AFTER SLEEPING IN HOTEL BEDS?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY FOR THE OBTAINED IMMIGRANTS.

HE WOULD RATHER SEE FAMILIES TAKE THE MIGRANTS INTO THEIR HOMES.

>> IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THAT WE HAVE BUILDINGS AROUND THE CITY THAT COULD BE USED.

WE HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY RESPONSE, AND WE ARE NOT TAPPING INTO THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, AND WE ARE JUST REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE OVER AND OVER.

>> Reporter: THIS DISPUTE COMES ON THE HEELS OF UNEASE IN THE WOODLAWN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS TRIED TO BLOCK THE TEMPORARY SHELTER OF MIGRANTS AT THE SHUTTERED WADSWORTH SCHOOL.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS SAID THE CITY IS AT CAPACITY TO HOUSE MIGRANTS.

IDHS HAD PLANNED TO MOVE THE MIGRANTS HERE TODAY, BUT THEY DELAYED THAT TIMELINE IN RESPONSE TO LAWMAKERS CONCERNS.

IT'S UNCLEAR NOW WHEN THE MOVE-IN DATE WILL HAPPEN IF IT HAPPENS AT ALL.

FAVI SAYS THE MIGRANTS HAVE UNDERGONE HEROINE JOURNEYS AND STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF THEIR CURRENT SITUATIONS.

>> WE WILL FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GRATEFUL FOR HAVING SOMEWHERE TO STAY.

AND THEN YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE