🦋💪 Know Your Rights and Other Actions You Can Take

Written By Will Guzzardi

Dear Neighbor, 

My office has been working with the Northwest Side Rapid Response team, a group of progressive Northwest Side elected officials, the Chicago Park District, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), and community leaders, to respond to potential ICE sightings. As federal threats continue to target immigrant and refugee communities and with the potential National Guard deployment in Chicago, it's more important than ever that we stay informed and connected. Chicago is a sanctuary city, and not only do we stand firm in that belief, we put it to action.

I’m sharing critical resources to help Illinois families navigate the growing concerns around increased ICE activity in Chicago. You can access various immigration resources at bit.ly/nwsresources and illinoisimmigrationinfo.org. And here are some actions you can take to help protect and inform neighbors: 

RESOURCES FOR KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS 

  • Join a Know Your Rights canvass with the Northwest Side Rapid Response team this weekend! Sign up here: bit.ly/nwsseptcanvass.

  • Save the ICIRR’s Family Support Network hotline to report suspected ICE sightings into your phone: 855-435-7693. Speed is important in these moments to help protect people, and this way you won't have to go googling for it in real time. 

  • Sign up for Eyes On ICE text alerts from ICIRR, which will notify subscribers by zip code in the event of confirmed ICE presence in your neighborhood.  

  • Click here to request a Know Your Rights training for your organization or workplace, and click here to learn more about one’s rights in ICE encounters.

  • For Spanish speakers: El Comité de Derechos de los Inmigrantes y Refugiados de la Ciudad de Chicago están organizando una sesión de información sobre inmigración virtual. Sabemos que los problemas de inmigración son amplios y a menudo complejos de entender. Durante este evento, nos aseguraremos de proporcionarte información actualizada sobre los cambios en la ley de inmigración respecto al Requisito de Registro de Extranjero, Autodeportación vs. Salida Voluntaria, TPS e IRS/ITIN, el aumento de la aplicación de la ley por parte de ICE, qué esperar y cómo entender tus derechos independientemente de tu estatus migratorio en este país.

    • Cuándo: Martes, 9 de septiembre de 6:00pm a 7:30pm.

    • Dónde: Virtualmente; una vez que te registres a continuación, recibirás el enlace de Zoom un día antes del evento.

    • Registrate aquí: bit.ly/CIRRKYR o llama al (773) 395-0143 para registrarse.

RESOURCES FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE 

  • If you know anyone who needs immigration legal, or community support, they can complete this form or call the hotline: 855-435-7693.

  • If you are a lawyer, volunteer to provide legal support for immigrant communities.

RESOURCES FOR PROTESTS & ENCOUNTERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT 

  • Save the number for the First Defense Legal Aid: 1-800-LAW-REP4 / 800-529-7374, a trauma-informed hotline to find civil rights counsel for police misconduct, report federal law enforcement activity, connect to stationhouse defense, and referrals to community and legal needs. 

Will Guzzardi
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