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Today’s quotable

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* David Struett at the Sun-Times…

Mayor Brandon Johnson is ramping up the pressure on the federal government to dole out more work permits for long-term immigrants, not just recent ones from Venezuela, in a move that business leaders say would boost the economy.

On the first anniversary of Johnson’s election as mayor, he touted a letter he signed with leaders from dozens of other cities urging the president to push harder for more work permits for immigrants. […]

Johnson said Congress and the president ideally will address immigrant reform themselves. But he’s also open to addressing work permits in the state Legislature.

“We’ve had conversations of sorts. There could be an opportunity there,” Johnson said without elaborating.

Not sure what that’s about.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 8:28 am

Comments

– Not sure what that’s about. –

Probably a sternly worded resolution … or maybe even a … wait for it … JOINT resolution. That’ll show ‘em.

Comment by Friday Addams Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 8:45 am
Given his track record, “Johnson said without elaborating.” should just automatically be appended to every statement of his.

Comment by Charles Edward Cheese Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 8:53 am
Wow, good job signing a letter, mayor. Don’t pat yourself too hard on the back for that accomplishment.

Comment by TJ Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 8:54 am
If memory serves me correctly, there was an effort last year to see if the state could issue work permits to the asylum seekers (who are in the country legally,) but the determination was made that only the feds could do so. That would seem to definitively close out the possibility of the state issuing permits to immigrants who are undocumented and have no legal status, regardless of how long they’ve been here.

Comment by TNR Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 9:22 am
Alderman Ray Lopez (15th) has called Mayor Brandon Johnson out for prioritizing the needs of the migrants before addressing the needs of long term minority residents in Chicago.

It is one hot mess.

Comment by Gravitas Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 9:27 am
===Alderman Ray Lopez (15th) has called Mayor Brandon Johnson out===

lol

You say that as if a highly respected and quiet leader has finally had enough and is only now coming forward.

Please.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 9:38 am
Alderman Lopez does spend a significant amount of time seeking media coverage.

Comment by Gravitas Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 9:40 am
Not exactly sure what “long-term migrants” means.

Comment by Steve Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 9:58 am
Maybe he was thinking of the Texas state legislature.

Comment by Original Rambler Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 9:59 am
This a a rational policy. Let them be employed asap and be able to support themselves, green card or not.

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 10:23 am
Long term migrants are people who immigrated before the recent wave of asylum seekers. They are limited in what jobs they can have (because of the need to work under the table), those jobs don’t tend to pay well and of course, they are not making social security contributions. They often have US citizen children, but have very little in the ability to improve their life without a work permit.

IMO, if the feds haven’t caught someone within 5 years, and they’ve settled in and been responsible (e.g. not committing crimes violent or financial crimes), it’s not worth going through the effort to enforce immigration policies on them. Especially if their kids are citizens.

Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 11:07 am
=== – Not sure what that’s about. – ===

Heh, neither is he.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 12:20 pm
= prioritizing the needs of the migrants before addressing the needs of long term minority residents in Chicago.=

Not sure how this prioritizes them, it really prioritizes Illinois citizens by getting these folks in position to support themselves. Seems like a no-brainer but hey…Chicago politics ami’right?

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 1:47 pm
I find it ironic that the GOP has no problems with trying to restrict interstate travel when it comes to abortion care. Yet when it concerns their beggar-thy-neighbor immigration policy toward other states, interstate travel is the answer.

Comment by Homer Simpson's Brain Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 2:04 pm
“We’ve had conversations of sorts. …”

Gassing about nothing.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 2:06 pm