Chicago, Illinois – NBC 5 Investigates has filed a lawsuit against the administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson, accusing the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications of withholding public records related to the migrant crisis. The news organization has been reporting on the conditions inside migrant shelters and environmental concerns at proposed migrant base camps, as well as tracking the public funds spent on the crisis. In an effort to obtain more information, NBC 5 Investigates submitted several public records requests regarding the city’s operational response, strategy, and conditions within migrant shelters.
These records were crucial in a recent NBC 5 Investigates report, which revealed that Johnson’s administration knew as early as October about the heightened risk of contagious illnesses due to overcrowding inside the city’s migrant shelters. The obtained records also confirmed that the lack of space in Chicago’s migrant shelter system presented challenges in placing people and providing initial healthcare services. As part of its extensive review of internal city records, NBC 5 Investigates discovered potential gaps in the Johnson administration’s approach to addressing the health needs of migrants.
During this review process, NBC 5 Investigates became aware that some records might be missing. Attorney Matt Topic with Loevy & Loevy, who represents NBC Chicago, stated that it is becoming increasingly difficult to access information without resorting to legal action. The news outlet has already filed ten lawsuits against the administration for failing to respond to requests for records related to the migrant crisis. It remains unclear whether the records in question either exist or are intentionally being withheld.
Joe Ferguson, Chicago’s former inspector general and currently associated with the non-partisan government research group Civic Federation, expressed concerns regarding the impact of lawsuits for public records on public trust in the government. He emphasized the need for transparency, urging authorities to either confirm the absence of records or provide a clear explanation for their unavailability.
NBC 5 Investigates has reached out to the mayor’s office, the city’s law department, and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications for comment but is still awaiting a response. The article will be updated as new information becomes available.