Please see below for information regarding recent federal intervention in the City of Chicago, including rights to protect the rights of our residents and immigrant communities.
Legislation / City Action
- Resolution affirming Chicago’s commitment to immigrant communities and rejecting federal threats of military occupation. (Sept 4th)
- Mayor Johnson has signed executive orders:
- City of Chicago joined State of Illinois’ lawsuit against deployment of national guard (Oct 6th)
Hotlines
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- (855) 435-7693 – The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, assistance due to ICE detention or to report suspected ICE sightings
- (312) 666-3062 – The Resurrection Project, immigration legal services (Tues-Fri 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm)
- (312) 660-1370 – National Immigrant Justice Center, for immigrants living in the Chicago, IL and Goshen, IN regions for low-cost legal consultations and representation (Tues-Thurs 8:30am-4:30pm or email NIJC@immigrantjustice.org)
Know Your Rights (‘KYR’) / Other Trainings
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) – English, Spanish
- ICIRR general KYR page
- Illinois Immigration Information general KYR page
- ACLU of Illinois ICE rights guidance
- National Immigration Law Center – Rights for employers (preparing for ICE checklist, when ICE arrives, etc
- City of Chicago KYR flyers – English, Spanish
Mutual Aid / Rapid Response
- 19th District Mutual Aid – Facebook & Instagram
- Accepts monetary donations, as well as essential supplies also via Amazon wishlist
- Volunteering
Other Resources & Resource Hubs
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)
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- (Link) Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
- See link for guidance on encountering ICE, immigration court, workplace, protests, and deportation
- Court watch volunteer program (email icirrcourtwatch@gmail.com)
- (Link) Nonprofits providing free/low-cost immigration support
- (Link) Longer list of nonprofits offering immigration support
- (Link) Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
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- Illinois Immigration Information
- (Link) IllinoisImmigrationInfo.org
- General guidance on loved ones detained (fill out this form)
- Obtaining driver’s license/state ID
- Tracking immigration policy changes
- ICE encounters
- Family emergency plans
- City of Chicago Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (CIRR)
- (Link) Committee resource hub
- The Resurrection Project
- (Link) IllinoisImmigrationInfo.org
Statements From Our Office:
- Full newsletter archive – see other past statements below:
January 24th
“As you may hear concerning reports of potential immigration raids, I want to remind our community that Chicago is a proud Welcoming City committed to protecting the rights of all residents. Our local policies prioritize building trust and ensuring public safety, rather than targeting individuals based on their immigration status. For those seeking support, we encourage you to access resources that outline your rights and provide guidance for interactions with immigration authorities. See helpful guides in English here and Spanish here. Together, we stand united in defending due process and ensuring everyone in our city feels safe, respected, and valued.”
September 12th
“One of our local community groups, 19th District Mutual Aid, is stepping up to support immigrants and other vulnerable neighbors through educational resources, legal clinics, trainings and more. Neighbors can see upcoming ‘Know Your Rights’ trainings here and ICE rapid response trainings here. Sign up as a volunteer to sort, pack, and distribute items here, view an educational flyer in Spanish here, or make a donation here to help sustain this critical work. Together, these efforts ensure that everyone in our community has the tools and support they need to stay safe.”
September 5th
“This week, I signed onto a City Council resolution affirming Chicago’s commitment to immigrant communities and rejecting federal threats of military occupation in our city. Immigrants remain at the heart of what makes our ward, our city, and our country strong, and I will continue to stand with them against divisive fear tactics. You can read the full resolution here, and see more resources from the City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights here.”
August 29th
“On Wednesday, our office attended the 19th Police District Council’s monthly meeting, where discussion focused on immigrant protections, 911 mental health responses, and more. Guest speakers from the City’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights shared a “Know Your Rights” presentation to help families and employers know what to do when confronted by immigration enforcement and understand recent changes to federal policy. In light of recent threats of federal intervention, I join our city and state leaders in clearly stating: Chicago will not be intimidated. We are prepared, we are organized, and here in the 44th Ward, we will continue to stand with immigrant families against divisive fear tactics. Immigrants remain at the heart of what makes our ward, our city, and our country strong. See the full meeting presentation here, and an additional resource guide from the City here.”
October 3rd
“In light of escalating federal immigration enforcement, the City Council’s Committee on Immigrant & Refugee Rights shared a helpful series of resources for neighbors and institutions. You can see the Committee’s page here for ongoing updates to learn how to prepare and support loved ones, and learn about Know Your Rights trainings and more here. If you or someone you know needs assistance, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights operates a support hotline at 855-435-7693. Our office will continue coordinating with community partners to keep residents informed and safe.”