Recent reports from law enforcement in sanctuary cities and their suburbs raise concerns over an uptick in crime, which is being attributed, in part, to migrants who have been released within the US after entering the country illegally. A noticeable increase in criminal activity has prompted alarms, especially in urban areas such as Chicago and New York City.
In a striking example, Oak Brook, Illinois, a suburb of the Windy City, has seen a wave of crime that its police chief connects to this group of migrants. Chief Brian Strokis of the Oak Brook Police Department disclosed a troubling series of offenses, citing six felony arrests on a single day, and an unusually high number of migrant arrests—49 since late October.
“The data indicates that we’re facing a challenging situation,” stated Chief Strokis, addressing the local media on behalf of DuPage County. “Such volume of felony crime in a brief period places a significant strain on our resources. Nonetheless, our department is resilient and will persist in our efforts to maintain safety. Oak Brook, as well as DuPage County, are not hospitable environments for criminal activity.”
Prosecutors shed light on two grave incidents at a local Macy’s department store, involving migrants from Chile and Venezuela, which culminated in felony charges leveled by DuPage County’s State Attorney, Robert Belin. Despite prosecutors’ efforts, judicial decisions led to rejection of detaining the accused without bond.
Law enforcement shared specifics of the Macy’s case, noting that the implicated group had supposedly used specialized devices to deactivate anti-theft tags, proceeding to steal goods valued over $10,000. Another related event included attempted theft of merchandise nearing $1,000 in value.
The patterns emerging in Oak Brook, described by Chief Strokis during a Fox News segment, involve 47 migrants arrested since late October for various offenses. He revealed that these incidents are part of a more extensive trend, with property crimes featuring predominantly among the 175 migrant arrests recorded over the preceding year.
Notably, The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has highlighted a sharp rise in the arrest of Venezuelan migrants in the Chicago area—an increase said to be in the vicinity of 11,000 percent—coinciding with the ongoing border crisis.
This escalation in criminal incidents has ignited debates and concerns regarding migration policies, border control, and local law enforcement capacity. As cities strive to address these challenges, the discourse continues over the balance between welcoming immigrants and ensuring community safety.