Many Migrants In Chicago Are Ineligible To Get Work Permits

Many migrants in Chicago, one of the largest cities in the United States, are ineligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status to obtain work permits. Thousands of migrants do not even have the option to apply for Temporary Protected Status.

Amid the migrant crisis in Chicago in the United States, most of the migrants who are eligible for the federal Temporary Protected Status are Venezuelans. However, it is not easy to obtain work permits.

Since August 2022, more than 20,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago. Around 12,281 migrants have taken shelter in 25 migrant facilities across the city. More than 1800 migrants are still awaiting placement and shelter.

Who is eligible to obtain work permits in Chicago?

According to a report by CBS, only about a quarter of those 20,000 migrants are eligible to obtain work permits in Chicago. Out of 20,000 migrants, only 5000 migrants are eligible for special protection and work permits made possible by the federal government. 

The procedure to apply for work permits can only be done with an attorney. However, all migrants cannot take help from an attorney. 

Migrants can only apply to obtain work permits if they arrived in the United States by July 31. If they obtain work permits under Temporary Protected Status, migrants can legally work and live in the United States for up to 18 months. 

Lisa Koop, the national director of legal services for the National Immigrant Justice Center, said, “Some migrants are prevented from getting work permits because they don’t have a paper that says they’re authorized to work.” 

Why many migrants in Chicago are ineligible to get work permits

Many migrants in Chicago are ineligible to get work permits because they arrived in the United States after the deadline. They can only apply for asylum, which is a much more difficult process.

Lisa Koop said, “There are Colombians, Ecuadorians, Haitians, Central Americans, who can’t access this protection and who still remain in that legal limbo.”  

Migrant’s health in Chicago has also deteriorated in recent days. Families sleeping outside, often without blankets, have been suffering because of the common cold, the flu, and other diseases amid the cold weather.