At their meeting on April 24, the Village Board will consider adoption of an ordinance to establish a timeframe during which unscheduled buses can drop-off passengers at the Wilmette Metra Station.
Excerpt from 4/19/24 Weekly Wilmette E-Newsletter - Between December 31, 2023 and April 17, 2024, 62 unscheduled buses carrying approximately 2,447 passengers have arrived in the Village of Wilmette from Texas, with many of the passengers being persons seeking asylum from various countries in Central America. The Village has approached this evolving situation in accordance with our obligation to ensure the safety of all individuals living in and visiting the community. Accordingly, the Wilmette Police Department has helped guide the new arrivals from the Wilmette Metra Station to the City of Chicago where they receive food, shelter, medical care, and social services.
Over the past 30 days, the frequency of unannounced bus drop-offs in Wilmette has increased to approximately 7 per week, with some buses arriving in the middle of the night. Unscheduled, overnight bus drop-offs have presented a strain on the Wilmette Police Department’s resources due to reduced overnight police staffing and limited Metra train availability. Accordingly, the Village Board will vote on an ordinance to limit the days and times during which buses may make unscheduled drop-offs in Wilmette to Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This timeframe allows the Wilmette Police Department to continue to serve in a community caretaking role while providing the best opportunity for bus passengers to immediately access City of Chicago services, which include mandatory vaccinations, to expedite the transition from Chicago’s intake center to shelters.
Excerpt from 4/19/24 Weekly Wilmette E-Newsletter - Between December 31, 2023 and April 17, 2024, 62 unscheduled buses carrying approximately 2,447 passengers have arrived in the Village of Wilmette from Texas, with many of the passengers being persons seeking asylum from various countries in Central America. The Village has approached this evolving situation in accordance with our obligation to ensure the safety of all individuals living in and visiting the community. Accordingly, the Wilmette Police Department has helped guide the new arrivals from the Wilmette Metra Station to the City of Chicago where they receive food, shelter, medical care, and social services.
Over the past 30 days, the frequency of unannounced bus drop-offs in Wilmette has increased to approximately 7 per week, with some buses arriving in the middle of the night. Unscheduled, overnight bus drop-offs have presented a strain on the Wilmette Police Department’s resources due to reduced overnight police staffing and limited Metra train availability. Accordingly, the Village Board will vote on an ordinance to limit the days and times during which buses may make unscheduled drop-offs in Wilmette to Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This timeframe allows the Wilmette Police Department to continue to serve in a community caretaking role while providing the best opportunity for bus passengers to immediately access City of Chicago services, which include mandatory vaccinations, to expedite the transition from Chicago’s intake center to shelters.