Katrina Pham/Borderless MagazineThe immigrant rights resource site provides guidance on Know Your Rights and what to do if one’s loved one is detained.
Local immigrant rights groups and state officials launched a multilingual site for immigrant families in Illinois.
They say they hope the site can help protect and empower Illinois residents, regardless of status, by connecting them with legal support and resources amid the federal government’s widespread crackdown on immigrants.
The online resource hub was created by The Resurrection Project, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, National Immigrant Justice Center, Chicago Office of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights, and Illinois Department of Human Services.
Want to receive stories like this in your inbox every week?
Sign up for our free newsletter.
“When we help immigrant families stay informed and protected, we strengthen our entire state,” said Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at The Resurrection Project, in a press release.
The Illinois Immigration Information Hub offers up-to-date information on policy changes, free and low-cost legal support, guidance on constitutional rights and resources on housing, discrimination and public benefits.
- guidance on what to do if one’s loved one is detained;
- How to prepare for an ICE encounter;
- How to prepare a family emergency plan;
- How to access a driver’s license or identification card;
- Information on how to avoid immigration fraud and scams;
- How to report a hate crime; and
- information on the ICIRR Family Support Hotline, which is available 24/7
Amid Trump’s immigration crackdown, sanctuary states and cities like Chicago have doubled down on their support for immigrants.
“When one community’s rights are threatened, all of our rights are at risk,” said Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, in a press release.
The site’s launch comes as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is set to testify June 12 before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He will join former vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to testify about sanctuary policies in each state.
This is not the first time these policies have been debated in Washington.
In March, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson defended the city’s sanctuary policies alongside Michelle Wu of Boston, Mike Johnston of Denver and Eric Adams of New York.
Organizations say the resource will be a tool to advocate for immigrant families as debates over such policies continue.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that our communities remain safe, informed, and strong,” Tsao said.
For more information, Illinoisans can visit illinoisimmigrationinfo.org.
Tara Mobasher is a Northwestern Medill Reporting fellow at Borderless Magazine. Email Tara at [email protected].
Bring power to immigrant voices!
Our work is made possible thanks to donations from people like you. Support high-quality reporting by making a tax-deductible donation today.
