In Chicago, a group of volunteer medics are stepping up to provide healthcare to the growing number of migrants arriving in the city without a place to live. These volunteer doctors, nurses, and physician assistants, mostly students in training, visit police stations where migrants are initially housed, offering medical assistance such as prescribing antibiotics, distributing prenatal vitamins, and assessing for serious health issues. Their efforts are filling a gap in Chicago\'s response to the influx of asylum-seekers, as the city\'s resources struggle to keep up with the demand.

Over the past year, more than 19,600 migrants have come to Chicago since Texas Governor Greg Abbott began sending buses to so-called sanctuary cities. While waiting for space at a longer-term shelter, such as park district buildings, these migrants often spend months at police stations and airports. During this time, they rely on a mix of volunteers and social service groups for basic necessities like food, clothes, and medicine. Recognizing the medical care gap, Sara Izquierdo, a medical student at the University of Illinois Chicago, consulted experienced doctors and designed a street-medicine model specifically tailored to migrants\' medical needs. Her group, operating on a shoestring budget of $30,000, mostly used for medication, makes weekly visits to police stations to provide healthcare services.

On a recent Saturday, Izquierdo and dozens of medics gathered at a South Side police station where migrants sleep in the lobby, on sidewalks, and an outdoor basketball court. However, officers did not allow the volunteers inside the station, so when a patient requested privacy, their doctor had to use his car as an improvised exam room. One patient, Abrahan Belizario, who had not seen a doctor in five months, had a headache, toothache, and chest pain. Belizario had recently arrived from Peru, where he worked as a driver and at a laundromat but could not make ends meet. He attributed his symptoms to the harsh Chicago weather, which he was not accustomed to. The volunteers booked him a dental appointment and provided him with a bus pass.

The majority of migrants arriving in Chicago and other U.S. cities come from Venezuela, where a social, political, and economic crisis has driven millions into poverty. Many have undertaken a dangerous journey on foot to reach the U.S. border. As a result, their health problems often stem from their journey or living in crowded conditions. Common issues include back and leg injuries from walking, easily spread infections, and challenges related to hygiene due to limited access to indoor bathrooms and handwashing stations. Additionally, most migrants do not carry their medical records and may also have trauma from their homeland or the journey itself.

The volunteer medics do their best to address these issues, but they have limitations. Their medical supplies consist of duffle bags filled with medications for children, bandages, and even earplugs for migrants who wish to block out sirens. However, they cannot offer services such as X-rays or address chronic conditions. As Ruben Santos, a medical student at Rush University, explained, they adapt their approach to focus on addressing the migrants\' most pressing needs and establishing connections with them. Each patient is informed that the services are free and provided by students, with experienced doctors overseeing treatment plans and prescribing medications.

However, getting medications to the migrants presents another challenge. During one visit to a police station, the volunteers had to coordinate the distribution of 15 prescriptions among them. Working on laptops on the floor near sleeping families, the doctors mapped out a plan for the following day to ensure the medications reached the recipients. In some cases, emergency help has been required. For instance, Moises Hidalgo, a 30-year-old migrant from Peru, experienced difficulty breathing, and the doctors suspected pneumonia. They called an ambulance for him. Hidalgo, who left Venezuela over a decade ago, had been searching for jobs in Chicago but faced rejection due to a lack of work permit. He emphasized the urgency of finding a solution and the need for employment to secure a place to stay.

The volunteer medics hope that Chicago can formalize their approach to healthcare for migrants. Currently, the city is struggling to manage the growing population of migrants, with buses and planes arriving daily at all hours. Mayor Brandon Johnson, who took office in May, acknowledges that this is an inherited issue and has proposed winterized tents as a temporary solution. The heavy reliance on volunteers has also been recognized by city officials. Rey Wences Najera, the first deputy of immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights, describes the situation as building a plane while flying it and adds, "the plane is on fire."

Despite the challenges, the volunteer medics are committed to their work. For some, it is personal. Muftawu-Deen Iddrisu, a medical professional originally from Ghana who now works at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, wanted to give back due to his own humble background. He attended medical school in Cuba and understands the impact of someone helping him in the past. As he stated, "I know how it feels. I know once sometime back someone did the same for me."

The volunteer medics\' efforts exemplify the dedication and compassion of individuals stepping up to fill the gaps in healthcare for migrants in Chicago. They are providing much-needed medical attention to those who would otherwise face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services. However, there is a pressing need for more comprehensive and sustainable solutions to address the growing population of migrants and their healthcare needs in the city.