From sharing information and shopping immigrant-owned businesses to donating to nonprofits, here are seven ways Chicagoans can help immigrant communities in the city.
by Francia Garcia Hernandez January 28, 2025 BLOCK CLUB
CHICAGO – Immigrant communities in Chicago are on edge amid the Trump administration’s broad immigration crackdown during his first week in office.
When A Trip To The Doctor Could Lead To Deportation
Over the weekend, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched “Operation Safeguard,” with immigration agents descending on Chicago for “enhanced targeted operations” that led to more than 100 arrests in the area Sunday. ICE officials have said they are targeting people with criminal backgrounds. Seven of the people arrested Sunday had criminal warrants, the Sun-Times reported.
Since the inauguration, the Trump administration has launched a series of sweeping immigration orders, including a directive to end birthright citizenship, a push for stricter border protections and the suspension of the refugee admissions program.
Gov. JB Pritkzer has said ICE raids could target roughly 2,000 people in the city. About 1.7 million immigrants live in the Chicago metro area, according to a Vera Institute of Justice study of census data.
The ICE operations are stoking fear for immigrants in Chicago. Here are seven ways Chicagoans can help the city’s immigrant communities.
Know Your Rights — And Help Others Be Informed
Immigration justice organizations, along with city and local partners, have doubled efforts to educate immigrant com-munities on their rights when interacting with immigration authorities. Dozens of neighbors and groups have canvassed neighborhoods, distributing flyers and hosting Know Your Rights workshops.
All immigrants have the right to remain silent and can walk away from ICE agents if they are not being arrested or detained.
RELATED: What Immigrant Communities Should Know About Their Rights
“The most important things is to remain calm and to be aware of what your rights are,” said Marcela Rodriguez, co-executive director of nonprofit Enlace Chicago, which has distributed Know Your Rights information in Little Village schools.
Chicagoans can attend a workshop and share information with family, friends, neighbors or organize a Know Your Rights workshop. You can sign up for a virtual Know Your Rights training or attend one of the city’s Know Your Rights workshops citywide. For an updated list of events, visit the Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights of Chicago’s website.
Visit The Resurrection Project’s website for up-to-date information and resources, including a printable, bilingual know your rights toolkit and an employer guide. The nonprofit also offers workshops for immigrants with a family member detained by ICE or immigrants detained and released by ICE.
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Chicago’s Immigrants Are Being Targeted By ICE. Here’s What You Can Do To Help