Two Chicago police officers patrol a pedestrian area near the O’Hare Blue Line station at O’Hare International Airport on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Those arriving by CTA train at O’Hare Airport during overnight hours need to provide proof they have “business” there to be allowed to enter, officials said.

Chicago police officers will be asking anyone arriving at the airport via the Blue Line between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. for “proof of airport business,” such as an airline boarding pass or an employee badge, the Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement.

Those who can’t provide proof will be turned away.

“In order to provide a secure environment at O’Hare International Airport, CDA security personnel work with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to enforce existing laws, which make clear that it is unlawful to be at Chicago’s airports without any airport business,” the CDA said.

The Aviation Department emphasized that the policy has been in place since 2020. As a secure location, O’Hare does not allow members of the public to be at the airport unless they are flying in or out or work there. It was unclear whether the policy applied to people picking up or dropping off travelers at the airport.

But enforcement of that policy appeared to have waned earlier in the winter before it was given extra attention in recent months after the number of unhoused people seeking shelter at the airport drew national attention and criticism.

In February, Mayor Lori Lightfoot acknowledged the seriousness of the problem but argued that conservative media had blown the issue out …read more

Source:: Chicago Sun Times