August 2025 – Borderless Magazine NFP

Photo illustration by Max Herman/Borderless Magazine. Photos by Max Herman and Camilla Forte/Borderless Magazine

Gov. J.B. Pritzker Condemns Trump’s Threats of Deploying National Guard to Chicago Education Immigration Policy Organizing Trending

Gov. J.B. Pritzker Condemns Trump’s Threats of Deploying National Guard to Chicago

The federal government has previously used the National Guard dozens of times for conflicts, and hundreds more for local crises and national emergencies. Illinois leaders say Trump’s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago are “unwarranted.”

Tara MobasherAugust 29, 2025

Credit: Shane Tolentino

Cook County Sheriff ‘Data Loophole’ Lets ICE Access Immigrant Info Immigration Policy Trending

Cook County Sheriff ‘Data Loophole’ Lets ICE Access Immigrant Info

A clause in the county’s contract lets an information system designed for crime victims funnel sensitive data to ICE-contracted LexisNexis.

Alma Campos/ South Side WeeklyAugust 27, 2025

Caylo Seals/Sipa USA/Alamy Live News

Five Things to Know About Illinois’ New Climate Displacement Act Environment Trending

Five Things to Know About Illinois’ New Climate Displacement Act

State lawmakers and environmental advocates drafted a bill to prepare the state for migration, recognizing the Midwest as a climate haven for people evading climate disasters.

Aydali CampaAugust 26, 2025

Photos of Alix Dick and Antero Garcia by Caitlin Fisher Photography

The Cost of Being Undocumented: One Woman’s Reckoning with America’s Inhumane Math Arts & Culture Immigration Policy Trending

The Cost of Being Undocumented: One Woman’s Reckoning with America’s Inhumane Math

In an excerpt from their new book, Alix Dick and Antero Garcia tally the structural costs of undocumented life.

Alix Dick and Antero GarciaAugust 21, 2025

Reema Amin / Chalkbeat

New Illinois Law Aims to Protect Access to Public Education for Immigrant Students Education Immigration Policy Trending

New Illinois Law Aims to Protect Access to Public Education for Immigrant Students

The new law prohibits schools from creating policies that would discourage kids from attending school, such as asking for immigration status.

Reema Amin, Chalkbeat Chicago and Samantha Smylie/ ChalkbeatAugust 20, 2025

Max Herman/Borderless Magazine

CTA Unveils New Argyle Red Line Station, Businesses Split on Whether It Was Worth It Business Trending

CTA Unveils New Argyle Red Line Station, Businesses Split on Whether It Was Worth It

Some business owners near the new station say they haven’t seen a rebound in foot traffic nearly a month after the station's reopening, which could worsen amid the CTA’s looming budget crisis.

Katrina PhamAugust 19, 2025

Camilla Forte/Borderless Magazine/Catchlight Local/Report for America

Chicago Trans Immigrants Push Back Against Trump’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies Health Immigration Policy Trending

Chicago Trans Immigrants Push Back Against Trump’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies

As LGBTQ+ serving organizations face new threats under the Trump administration, they say they’re not giving up on their fight for visibility.

Tara MobasherAugust 14, 2025

Wendy Wei for Borderless Magazine

More Than Three Years After Russia’s Full-scale Ukraine Invasion, Aid Workers Question: ‘Is Rebuilding Enough? Conflict Investigation Organizing Trending Visuals

More Than Three Years After Russia’s Full-scale Ukraine Invasion, Aid Workers Question: ‘Is Rebuilding Enough?

Chicago's Ukrainian diaspora has funded millions to reconstruct bombed communities. But as some humanitarian workers pivot from humanitarian work to military action, volunteers face hard questions about effective resistance.

Wendy WeiAugust 12, 2025

Lucy Baptiste/Borderless Magazine

Chicago Food Pantries on Edge Over Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Health Trending

Chicago Food Pantries on Edge Over Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

As President Trump’s bill is set to cut SNAP and Medicaid benefits, local food pantries prepare for a rise in demand.

Lucy BaptisteAugust 7, 2025

Illustration by Elena Delzer

Trump and DOJ Reshape Immigration Court, Sparking ‘Widespread Fear and Panic’ Immigration Policy Investigation Trending

Trump and DOJ Reshape Immigration Court, Sparking ‘Widespread Fear and Panic’

From stricter federal policies to judicial firings, how Donald Trump and the Department of Justice are using immigration courts to carry out his deportation efforts.

Stephen FranklinAugust 5, 2025