Work permits in Chicago are hard to get for migrants

Migrant shelter — A man from Venezuela sits on a cot at the Chicago City Life Center, a church and community center. Many newly arrived migrants are struggling to get the work permits they need to get a job.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Only a fraction of newly-arrived migrants have work permits in Chicago

Cost, eligibility, and demand can be barriers to the work permit process.

A man from Venezuela sits on a cot at the Chicago City Life Center, a church and community center. Many newly arrived migrants are struggling to get the work permits they need to get a job.

Erin Hooley/AP

By Max Lubbers

A small fraction of recently arrived migrants have been approved for the documents they need to start working, according to a CBS-2 review of internal city data. But not everyone is eligible in the first place.

In early November, a clinic opened up to speed up the permit process. It's a joint effort of the city, state and federal government, as well as The Resurrection Project, an organization focused on immigrant rights.

Reset checks in on the progress of that clinic – and discusses who is left out.

GUESTS: Eréndira Rendón, vice president of immigrant justice at The Resurrection Project

Sabrina Franza, general assignment reporter, CBS 2