The Village of Oak Park has secured temporary housing for 160 illegal immigrants, relocating them from two local churches to the Carleton of Oak Park Hotel and West Cook YMCA.
“The migrants are staying in the motel, so it’s a separate area,” a front desk clerk at Carleton of Oak Park Hotel said when asked about the hotel’s new guests.
The move was prompted by the onset of colder weather, with the village board approving additional support.
The Oak Park Village Board declared an emergency disaster resolution, allocating $300,000 for language interpreters, medical services and other necessities, with police providing additional patrolling during this temporary measure.
The Oak Park Village Board suspended purchasing requirements, including formal bidding procedures, for such expenditures.
A surge of over 17,000 illegal immigrants have landed in Chicago since August 2022 resulting In the City of Chicago and state seeking to move those newcomers to suburban housing.
Oak Park has passed several “welcoming” resolutions promising to provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants.
The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel costs $179 per night. It is located at 1110 Pleasant Street in Oak Park.
The three-star hotel has been in operation for over 90 years.
It is within walking distance of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home & Studio and Hemingway’s Birth House.
The boutique hotel also serves as a venue for weddings, social events and corporate meetings, boasting over 6,000 square feet of event space and a dedicated professional staff.
The property also houses La Notte Ristorante and Poor Phil’s Bar & Grill.
The hotel boasts of a “charming design and décor with contemporary accommodations.”
