Chicago's mayor taps $95M in federal COVID-19 relief funds for migrant housing costs: report

 The mayor of Chicago has decided to use the city's $95 million budget surplus to accommodate the rising costs of thousands of illegal immigrants arriving in the city.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, citing Mayor Brandon Johnson's top aide, the move was made to share with residents how the city is providing care and shelter to more than 15,000 migrants who were flooded.

Johnson's senior adviser, Jason Lee, said that while the resources would help, it "will not change the approach" to the Windy City's continuing "unsustainable" migrant crisis.

"It doesn't change that viewpoint," Lee told the Sun-Times. “We will continue to lobby the federal government for more support as the situation, clearly, becomes more volatile.”

Fox32 Chicago reported that more than 20,000 immigrants have arrived in the Windy City since August 2022.

In November, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that Illinois would provide an additional $160 million to help resettle immigrants arriving in Chicago, including helping the city launch "winter" temporary shelters to keep people from sleeping outside during cold weather. Also includes $65 million to do.

Johnson has criticized President Joe Biden's administration for not directing more federal money to help deal with the situation, which continues to grow with no end in sight.

"What I've worked to do, rather than create chaos, is to provide some structure and calm around the situation and without significant federal support, it's not sustainable," Johnson said on CNN.

The progressive leader has also largely criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for sending busloads of migrants to sanctuary cities and states.

The governor of Texas has been calling on migrants in the city since last year to highlight the impact of illegal immigration on his state's border towns.

Last week, Abbott began flying migrants to the sanctuary city. Johnson complained that Abbott was not helping to deal with the migrant crisis.

"In no way is what the state of Texas is doing helping the cause," he said on CNN.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Gabriel Hayes contributed to this report.