We just requested, I don't know.
the Chicago city council Rules of Order and procedure rule
49, the sergeant-at-arms sets forth, the following rules of
convict to be followed during the public comment period and
the duration.
Of all committee and City Council. Meetings, profane vulgar,
threatening abusive or disruptive language is not
permitted. The meaning discriminatory or harassing behavior
of speech directed towards. Others is not permitted
disruptive behavior, including disruptive or disrespectful
contouring. Others presentations is not permitted, banners
flyers or signage are not permitted backpacks, large bags,
and sharp objects are not permitted. Clear backs, not
tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12 by 6. In will
be permitted in our subject to search health food and
beverages including in metal canisters are not permitted
cell phones. Must be placed on silent prior to entering the
meeting room. Individuals must remain seated, public
comment speakers are permitted to stand only when providing
public comment, small handheld devices may be used only
while seated and the user must refrain from interfering
with the viewer hearing of other individuals.
Individuals or groups failing to adhere to. These rules will
be asked to see such disruptive content and failure to
comply will result in their being subject to removal from
the meeting by the sergeant-at-arms.
You know what? I just realized something.
Right.
I'm sorry.
We got so yeah, no priority. You already know.
They want to form, which I did.
So cool. Thank
It's growing up.
Yeah.
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings.
2023 to 2027, pursuant to the Chicago city council Rules of
Order and procedure rule, 49. The sergeant-at-arms sets
forth, the following rules of convict to be followed during
the public comment period and the duration of all committee
and City Council, meetings, profane vulgar, threatening
abusive or disruptive language is not permitted. Demeaning
discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech directed
towards others is not permitted disruptive behavior,
including disruptive or disrespectful content. During
others presentations is not permitted, banners flyers, or
signage are not permitted backpacks, large bags, and sharp
objects are not permitted. Clear bags, not tinted in color
that do not exceed 12 by 12 by 6. In will be permitted in
our subject to search health food and beverages including
in metal canisters are not permitted cell phones. Must be
placed on silent prior to entering the meeting room.
Individuals must remain seated, public comment speakers are
permitted to stand only when providing public comment.
Small handheld devices may be used only while seated and
the user must refrain from interfering with the view or
hearing of other individuals, individuals or groups failing
to adhere to. These rules will be asked to see such
disruptive content and failure to comply will result in
their being subject to removal from the meeting by the
sergeant-at-arms.
You know what I just realized.
City of Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings, 2023 to 2027, pursuant to the Chicago city
council Rules of Order and procedure rule, 49. The
sergeant-at-arms sets forth, the following rules of convict
to be followed during the public comment period and the
duration of all committee and City Council, meetings
profane.
Vulgar threatening abusive or disruptive language is not
permitted. Demeaning discriminatory or harassing behavior
and speech directed towards. Others is not permitted
disruptive behavior including disruptive or disrespectful
condo tearing. Others presentations is not permitted,
banners flyers, or signage are not permitted backpacks,
large bags, and sharp objects are not permitted. Clear
bags, not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12 by 6.
In will be permitted in our subject to search health food
and beverages including in metal canisters are not
permitted cell phones. Must be placed on silent prior to
entering the meeting room. Individuals must remain seated,
public comments speakers, are permitted to stand only when
providing public comment, small handheld devices may be
used only while seated and the user must refrain from
interfering with the view or hearing of other individuals,
individuals or groups failing to adhere to. These rules,
will be asked.
To see such disruptive convict and failure to comply. Will
result in there being subject to removal from the meeting
by the Sergeant at Arms.
You know what? I just realized something.
You have Chicago city council rules of conduct for public
meetings. 2023 to 2027, pursuant to the Chicago city
council Rules of Order and procedure rule, 49. The
sergeant-at-arms sets forth, the following rules of convict
to be followed during the public comment period and the
duration of all committee and City Council. Meetings,
profane vulgar, threatening abusive or disruptive language
is not permitted. Demeaning discriminatory or harassing
behavior and speech directed towards. Others is not
permitted disruptive behavior including disruptive or
disrespectful condo tearing. Others presentations is not
permitted, banners flyers, or signage are not permitted
backpacks, large bags, and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags, not tinted in color that do not exceed 12 by 12
by 6. In will be permitted in our subject to search health
food and beverages including in metal canisters are not
permitted.
Cell phones must be placed on silent prior to entering the
meeting room. Individuals must remain seated, public
comment speakers are permitted to stand only when providing
public comment, small handheld devices may be used only
while seated and the user must refrain from interfering
with the view or hearing of other individuals, individuals
or groups failing to adhere to. These rules will be asked
to see such disruptive convict and failure to comply will
result in their being subject to removal.
From the meeting, but the sergeant-at-arms.
City of Chicago city, council rules of conduct for public
meetings, 2023 to 2027, pursuant to the Chicago city
council Rules of Order and procedure rule, 49. The
sergeant-at-arms sets forth, the following rules of convict
to be followed during the public comment period and the
duration of all committee and City Council. Meetings,
profane vulgar, threatening abusive or disruptive language
is not permitted. Demeaning discriminatory or harassing
behavior and speech directed towards others is not
permitted. Disruptive behavior, including disruptive or
disrespectful content. During others presentations is not
permitted, banners flyers, or signage are not permitted
backpacks, large bags, and sharp objects are not permitted.
Clear bags, not tinted in color that do not.
Exceed 12 by 12 by 6 inches will be permitted in our subject
subject to search health food and beverages including in
metal canisters are not permitted, cell phones must be
placed on.
Schools will be asked to see such disruptive convict and
failure to comply. Will result in there being subject to
removal from the meeting by the sergeant-at-arms.
You know what? I just realized something.
Mr. Blakemore, I'd kindly ask that you refrain from speaking
so that we can allow Miss Jackson to speak. Miss Jackson,
please.
so,
Good morning, anyway.
So, as this is the oversight committee, you know it's very
interesting to be in this meeting.
After attending the uh, oversight committee meeting at DC.
On March 5th and just so you know Inspector General whisper
I was in the hearing.
I didn't just see it on TV, I was in the hearing.
And what? I'm
Was was got me baffled. Is that how our mayor Brandon
Johnson?
Could commit perjury like that.
About the money.
And what's got me, even further puzzled is how he has
continued to lie since that time about the money.
The comedian immigrant Refugee Rights will now come to
order.
Uh, today, we have 1 item on the agenda, which is a subject
matter hearing with no votes to be taken on committee
updates, including updates, about Federal immigration
activity. In the Chicago area, we will begin with a roll,
call to establish quorum.
uh,
we've got, uh,
chairwoman Dal.
Here.
Uh, otter when we go.
Auto can.
Uh, okay, Alderman Rodriguez.
Alder person, Fuentes.
Uh, honorary pharaoh.
Alderwoman Cruise Alderman, Cardona.
Alderwoman Rodriguez Sanchez. Here Alderman. Cross
Rodriguez. Sanchez.
Sorry, Alderman, Ramirez, Rosa president, is that kind of
morning today. You're still here. My apologies, my friend.
Okay. All right. Got it.
Uh, alderwoman, I'm not hopping with.
Okay, Auto Manhattan.
Vice chair, Taylor and chair Vasquez. 1, 2 3.
There are 8 members currently present. We have a quorum
I need non-members present. No. Okay.
uh, Alder persons, uh, cruise and Taylor have requested a
virtual option for Committee hearing attendance, due to
extenuating circumstances. In accordance with rule 59 of
the city council Rules of Order, can I get a motion to
allow them to attend this hearing virtually?
So moved by other person Fuentes here in no objection. So
ordered
all right.
You ready?
Cool.
Okay, well you can. You want to start? We'll start you
right now. That's
You all right right now.
So first, uh, speaker.
okay, well,
Sorry.
Okay, at this time, we'll begin the public comment period,
the period is limited to 30 minutes out.
Of huh.
Out of respect for every time. Each speaker is limited to 3
minutes. Where most speakers will comment first filed by
those in person as of 10 a.m. Monday, March 17th 2025, uh,
zero callers have requested to speak at the Joint Committee
hearing. So we will move on to in-person speakers.
Our first speaker will be Mr. George Blakemore.
I'm a Paul.
The seats are empty. Even those illegal immigrants, I guess
they got uh, a lot of fists that show up, but at least
people from Palestine.
And Israel.
It's, it's terrible down here.
You didn't see me grinning in your face or nothing. So I I
Know The Enemy.
I never forget racism is here. The art of Engagement Maria
had she can speak good English. Pat dial can speak good
English.
How do you engage with your enemy?
How do you, why would you run up and, and grin and lick it
with your enemy? I asked for an agenda.
And you didn't have that agenda. Why? And why would you
You.
Over this committee. Why would you have this committee at
the same time?
In the same place and, and 2 different. Why would you do
that? That shows incompetence.
That shows unprofessionalism and evidently people are tired
of all of you. The seats are empty of men.
And women.
They're getting tired of the do do.
They are tired. I said, I better get there early. I don't
see a lot of Palestine and abs by Noble Africa and and
Israel you can see Israel is something popped up 1949.
It's just a pop-up nation and fight. It's sad and you're
depressed.
You all start news Trump feed.
Go red to my black people. Go Blue. No to your black. Hey,
be true.
It's something evil here, something corrupt here. But but
it's something unamerican here.
Who does that?
Why would you do that?
You're incompetent. But, you know, have the art of engaged
you speak. Good English. You don't use is the name. You're
the enemy sir.
You're my enemy and I hate you.
I will never guess I will never Grant. I hate you because
how you treated me you made me hey you I didn't want to do
it and all the time you knew it. I mean
Thank you very much Mr. Blakemore
Uh, our next speaker will be Jessica Jackson.
Yeah, my apologies for that.
Miss Jackson.
Um, so the this is the committee on immigrant and Refugee
Rights. And like I said, across the hall is very
interesting to see this meeting. Take place after having
the meeting up on in DC.
Uh at the uh at that Congressional, hearing up there about
Sanctuary cities. Now the issue with this at that hearing
mayor Brandon Johnson committed perjury several times as it
pertains to the issues of
The sanctuary cities and the effect that uh, illegal
immigration is having on Chicago. So now, with that being
said, everybody, in this room knows that Brandon Johnson
did not tell the truth.
Everybody in this room knows it.
Everybody in this room has to take responsibility.
For the fact that you all ran this city in the ground
knowingly, ran this city financially, environmentally,
ethically, morally, and any otherly you all knowingly ran,
Chicago in the ground and you all have to take
responsibility for that.
now, part of that responsibility is
That you all for.
Mayor Brandon Johnson to resign, he has proven to be unfit
to serve.
The fact that he allowed this illegal immigration to go on
like this but now because you all are very arrogant.
and believe that you all are Untouchables because Chicago
is this quote unquote Democratic machine,
You all intend to keep on operating business, as usual.
and that's evident by the attendance this morning, by the
fact that you all pounded 2 meetings on top of each other
knowing the importance of both meetings, knowing that, that
would be a trick for the media.
So that means that you all like our parents used to say,
don't believe fat meat is greasy.
so what we need to do, as the citizens of Chicago who have
the facts because we're in these meetings all the time is
what we're going to do is we're going to gather up the
pertinent information and we're going to forward it to
those Republicans up on Capitol Hill.
So that they can go ahead and handle Chicago because if
not, you all in 10 to let illegal immigrants.
Swallowed this city up to the point of no return.
Because a lot of you all do not have an allegiance to
America.
So with that being said, I'mma take my seat and I'mma
continue to gather up my evidence so that we can send it to
the federal government and you all, if you don't make
B.
Thank you. Very
Thank you, Miss Jackson, uh, thank you for your comments.
I'd like to know for the record. Uh, Alderman brunette is
present in an attendance. Uh,
As well as alderwoman Haden.
And Alder mentality phoh.
Thank you. All.
All right. The next uh, speaker. Our next speaker is Taiwan
Sims.
so, um,
TDs is true from derangement syndrome. It's true.
and a host of individuals in the country, uh,
I guess exhibiting this diet. Um, I don't know what it is
psychosis, I don't know how to explain it.
How about I know that it's ripping. Um, America apart.
And whereas we should be more connected now. Seeing as we
have a new Administration seeing is that we have been
occupied by millions of individuals have not who have not
been vetted nor checked,
Instead of arguing, instead of fighting for criminals.
We should be fighting for the legal immigrants.
Instead of coupling and making these 2, the same argument
where you all take illegal immigration and coupling with
the legal immigrants.
The people that came here, were 20 some years from
Nicaragua.
The people that came here were 11 some years from
Afghanistan. The people who have come from Wares and all
these other Mexican countries with been attacked by drugs
Lords.
These people are legal immigrants, they came through the
legal channels.
Jasmine Crockett seems to believe that illegal immigration
is legal and that is not criminal, but it is under title
weight. If we look at it, we'll see that it's illegal.
Andy Biggs post this question. He says are Sanctuary cities
illegal but you corporate law know the know the answer to
that right? Just like every
Person in this room. Should being the child of the leg leg
legislative part of our government.
But he cited. The 2 things the criminal, warrant versus
the, what Civil War which supersedes the criminal warrant.
Which shows that you all are culpable for criminal, acts
against American citizens.
Brandon Johnson said he put 20, what invested 20 times? The
amount that he put into the new arrival initiative, where
is that? Whereas the evidence of that, and he said, in
Black Americans. So, these American people American people.
That resemble me, where's the evidence of that? Because I'm
still homeless, because I'm still dealing with everything
that I'm dealing with that. I came into this room once
before the speaker about or have been continuously speaking
about,
Where is the evidence of that corporate law?
You all violated my constitutional right, right? Y'all
wanted to censor me. Y'all wanted to keep me quiet for what
reason.
The evidence is, I, I don't even have to stand at this
Podium and speak. We can walk through the streets of
Chicago, we can note the veterans. We can note the younger
adults.
And we can note the Americans that sleep in line the
streets.
What because you all chose the house illegals because you
all chose y'all criminal stands against the American
people.
You all must be held accountable and I want to choose a
soft speech in a way to say that but I can't.
Because I'm a victim of this.
I stand as a victim here.
Ran out of my neighborhood.
Thank you, Mr. Sims for your comments.
Uh, our next speaker will be Paula Jean.
Jean. Sorry, my apologies for that.
Thank you.
Oh, thank you.
All right, thank you for your time. My name is Paula Jean.
I come to you as a US citizen and also as an immigrant um
life has not actually yeah life hasn't been easy for me but
it has been incredibly wonderful and it's been wonderful
because of this great City. I came here as an immigrant
back in 1989. And the reason my family chose the city of
Chicago was because of the welcoming city ordinance.
Um, I want to let you know that, you know, I was raised in
poverty, I literally lived in someone's basement, I lived
slept in a yellow little couch, that I could fill Every
Spring on my back as a baby. Uh, I was raised in these
Texas and I got away with the pretty privilege of being
exotic. And I got to tell you, I'm not even that pretty
probably a 5, uh, and that was raised inheriting my
parents' trauma. So, I like to share a little bit about my
family and that trauma, my family, fled Columbia, in the
1980s to escape the pillage of our private property. Um,
with the murders of 3, uncles executed off a bridge. My mom
thought her options were really limited limited. So through
the trauma of the tears and the turmoil of immigrating to a
new land, not knowing the language, my family somehow made
By the grace of God. Uh, we got to live our and achieve the
American dream. I'm proud to be an American and what I've
accomplished a professionally but more. So I'm proud of
what I've given back. What I've given back is, I've worked
with the homeless in Dallas, and I've advocated for them in
front of city council. I've raised money for people with
disabilities through ability connection, I've served on
numerous nonprofit boards to encourage more. People more
minorities to enter the stem field. And I've started, um,
I've actually gone to Geneva through the world economic
Forum to work with Asylum, Seekers there, and I started an
international business in Africa and have uh, We've hired
dozens of people there.
And we've done me, and my family have done, much more than
that. And after all of this, I just want to say all these
years. I've just wanted to give back, I've wanted to
provide value. And I've wanted to prove my worth that prove
that I was worthy of that US citizenship, in the words of
JC. And my first song, when I was born, it was sworn, I
wasn't going to be s***. Sorry about that. Um, I had to
pull the opposite of that, so I yearned back to give back
to this country. I risk a lot by standing up here. Um, I
know that there's a lot of vitriol right now, but I think
that it's too important not to not to stand up for what I
believe in.
Be because I'd like you to understand what happens. When you
you give somebody an opportunity, this is what happens when
we gave those immigrants an opportunity. And I want you to
see directly firsthand the
Return on your investment all those years ago.
So today all of us in the Immigrant Community are living in
fear and I don't want us to be ignorant to that. We are
living in Co level lockdowns, not just immigrants but
International students phds people from freaking Ivy
Leagues are scared to go back. They're getting their visas.
Rescinded. Listen, I'm not the smartest person and as we
established, I'm not the prettiest, and we need more people
to speak up. So I hope that more people will come. I hope
more people will speak and people that are more powerful
and prettier than I am. We'll use their voices. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Uh, Miss Paula again. Uh, thank you to
all of our speakers today.
Um, I would like to note that this committee received 1
written public comment that you'll find included in your
packet.
Uh, there being no more speakers, the public comment period
is concluded.
uh, the first and only item on the agenda before our
committee is a subject matter hearing with no votes to be
taken on committee updates, including updates, about
Federal immigration activity in the Chicago area,
Good morning, uh, steamed a committee members and to members
of the public both present and watching, uh, streaming
welcome to today's immigration Committee hearing where we
hope to share, updates related to the work, uh, the, uh,
the city of Chicago and this committee are doing as it
relates to immigration. Uh, when I was first appointed to
be the chair of this committee, it was at a time when the
time when the city of Chicago was just at the beginning of
the exponential, influx of new arrivals being bussed to
Chicago and an attempt by Texas governor, Greg Abbott to
create chaos and division here in our city.
Uh, since that time more than 50,000, new arrivals have come
to Chicago in the beginning of the crisis. We saw tens of
thousands of people, living out of police, stations and
airports, and some on the street.
As we all saw bus, after bus of new arrivals reached
Chicago, I and the committee team worked to support the
city's operations to provide public transparency, and
accountability, on the new arrivals Mission, and to partner
with mutual Aid, groups to connect new arrivals with
resources, when the city was not able to provide them,
We hosted know your rights trainings for new arrivals to
make sure they understood their civil rights resources, and
responsibilities as residents of our city.
We create an immigration task force of Alders to help in
holding the administration accountable and to help the ward
offices. Best understand how to provide help to their
communities and to be up-to-date on the latest information.
We also worked hard to share the information, we received
on the ground, to the administration from recommending a
unified shelter system to avoid exacerbating existing
tensions in our city, to raising up concerns about
contractors, like garter world and favorite Staffing. Uh,
when the administration implemented, the 60-day shelter
policy, we publicly opposed the decision to evict people
from shelters and were able to successfully delay
implementation of the eviction process until winter was
over.
Now, the new arrivals Mission has concluded but the crisis
is not over.
The 50,000, people who came to us are still here. Some of
them had found housing and some are still navigating the
city's shelter system.
Many received temporary protected status through the
previous administration, at the presidential level and were
able to secure work authorizations. And now in the new
Administration, many more will be deprived of that status
In the first few months of this Administration we have seen
clearly the value they hold for the rights of immigrants
and refugees.
We have seen their attempts to ignore due process by
fast-tracking and mass deportation without regard to fair
and legal due process.
We have seen students rip from their homes and deprived of
their green cards because they spoke out and protested and
violation of the First Amendment rights.
We have seen videos celebrating undocumented immigrants,
being Shackled, and loaded onto deportation flights. We
have seen this Administration rely on an 18th century law
that led to the mass internment of Japanese Americans
during World War II. To justify sending thousands of
Venezuelans, to El Salvador, and we have seen them refuse
the court order to send them back to the US.
These are deeply scary times, not only for immigrants and
refugees, but for all Americans who value our rights and
freedoms because we know where this kind of disregard for
Humanity leads,
At this time, it is more important than ever that we work.
As a unified front to uphold the values of the city and
live up to the mission of this committee to ensure that we
protect the civil rights of immigrants and refugees in our
city.
During this hearing, you will hear from some of our partners
on the impact of these Federal actions on Chicago,
immigrant and Refugee communities.
As a committee, we are committed to continuing to provide
the transparency and accountability that we have provided
since the beginning of this term.
We'll continue to partner with immigration attorneys to
host monthly, briefings to ensure that everyone who works
with immigrant and Refugee committees as Captain informed
on the changing Federal landscape around immigration. So
they can better serve their communities. We will continue
to host know your rights training is around the city to
ensure that all immigrants and refugees are aware of their
rights and can get connected to resources. And we will
continue to stand up for the rights of every immigrant and
Refugee in the city. Because we know that we are stronger
together. We thank you for joining us in this work. Uh, we
will now start the presentation.
Sorry.
Got it.
Uh, alderwoman Gutierrez, I see you're here.
Got you?
And we see all the women Crews, who was a lot to rule. 59
is also, uh, with us virtually
All right.
Yeah.
Okay, so we're going to go over a number of things. We had
actually originally reached out. Here's the agenda, we're
going to go over the mayor's office response to our request
to testify before this committee at this meeting.
Well, go over the reporting on the work being done by the
committee on immigrant Refugee Rights. The work that has
been done and continues to be done.
And then we have subject matter hearing uh with Katarina
Ramos from the national immigrant Justice Center to go over
some of the latest federal information.
So, we had reached out to the mayor's office on request of
the following parties, to be present to the public for this
hearing, uh, we requested for, uh, Deputy Mayor matis pain
or representative from the mayor's office on immigrant
migrant and Refugee Rights to attend, as well as Deputy
Mayor, Gary and Gatewood or representative from mayor's
office of community, safety and wanting to learn about any
interactions between CPD and Ice. As we had heard committee
members and council members in the public, ask about it.
Uh, we'd also uh, requested for superintendent, Larry
Snelling or representative from Chicago Police Department
uh, to come
Uh, we invited them to speak, uh, they declined on the
recommendation of the Department of Law. Uh, they did
however, send us a memorandum, which is here. We'll make
that available to everyone.
Uh, so I'll read what they said, the mayor's office and
City Department's, appreciate the invitation by chairman
Vasquez to testify at the Committee hearing taking place on
Tuesday, March 18th.
Due to ongoing Federal litigation City departments and
agencies are unable to appear at or participate in today's
subject matter hearing we respectfully request your
understanding under the circumstances and remain committed
to engaging at an appropriate time consistent with the
constraints of the ongoing legal proceedings.
Uh, thank you for your partnership and support.
Um,
for all they also outlined additional information as far as
when the appropriate time will be, we have no idea of that.
So we'll continue to ask out until we get some response.
Uh, here's what we received in questions about the, uh,
budget how much is being spent on the Migra Mission. Uh,
the specifics about the cost of the new arrivals Mission.
Continue to be accessible on the city's cost dashboard via
chicago.gov support. Uh, the committee did the extra work
of going to the site. So we have those uh presentation to
share as far as what's provided on the dashboard.
So uh, as you look at the bottom, the cumulative total of
what's being spent is 638 million. Uh, by cumulative, that
means not only the city's portion. Also the state and
federal as it relates to the share, we've got, uh, the
following
Uh, graph. So
As I stated this, the total was 638, um, Grant funds total
270 million. Uh the corporate fund which is the city's
amount of spend uh related to the mission over the 2 years
is 268 million.
Next in asking about uh CPD and Ice interactions, the
administration's response, uh, was from the mayor's office
of community safety the Illinois. Trust act prohibits local
law, enforcement agencies from assisting Federal
immigration enforcement operations, transferring
individuals, in the immigration, custody are sharing
information with immigration agents unless in connection
with criminal enforcement.
Pursuant to chapter 2-1 173 of the welcoming city
ordinance. The Chicago Police Department submits a
quarterly report to the office of the mayor and the office
of the Inspector General, describing the compliance with
this chapter in the preceding quarter, which includes a
list of the notifications made by CPD to the office of
emergency management and Communications with events.
Describing a request for assistance with this enforcement
of federal civil immigration law.
With regards to immigration detainers, or administrative
warrants received by CPD, that are related to enforcement
of civil immigration law. The quarterly report will also
list the date that CPD received the immigration detainer or
administrative warrant and whether CPD transferred, the
individual subject, to the immigration detainer or
administrative warrant to a federal, agency's custody and
if so which agency
Quarterly reports are available online on the Publications
page of the office of the Inspector General.
Uh, so that's IG chicago.org Publications. Similarly, our
committee went to the website to pull that information to
share.
so we've got a graph here that shows about 19 interceptions
uh that may have occurred 10, sorry, 10 interactions that
may have occurred. Um, with not much detail as to what
occurred in any of them. It's got pretty much a, a log file
number.
So uh, we believe that the committee that's it's an
adequate as far as getting information on. What's going on,
whether we're doing it publicly or in a briefing, we've not
received much more information than this. And so we will be
looking to see if there's amendments to Municipal Code that
could provide some level of insight, uh, just wanted to
share the information that is on the website. Um, we did
not want to just point people to a website without showing
you what's there.
Next, the part of the response from the mayor's office of
immigrant migrant and Refugee Rights.
Uh, we received at IMR has worked in collaboration with
City, departments, and Community organizations, to inform
the public about rights and resources related to
immigration policy.
In addition to know your rights, presentations IMR has also
made available a comprehensive resource guide available in
multiple languages.
This guided designed to provide Chicagoans with information
about their legal rights. The IMR team has also worked with
the Department of Law to provide guidance, to City
departments and sister agencies on how to respond to
Federal immigration enforcement activity at Government
properties in compliance with local state and federal laws.
I'm a remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all
Chicagoans and we welcome, any follow-up questions that may
arise to the chair as we navigate these uncertain and
challenging times. Uh, so you see in the comments if you
have any questions or follow-ups, please send them through
the chair. We'll then send to our to get some level of
response. Thank you.
That is the extent of the communications we received from
the administration related to testifying at the hearing.
Uh, we'll now start, uh, reporting update on the work that
the committee has been doing, uh, since really being this
committee. And, uh, this term
We'll go over the hearing calendar in 23, and 24.
Uh as well as 2024 Citywide engagement efforts and 2025
Citywide engagement Outlook and planning. Uh so we'll go
over those uh, different sections now.
So in 2023, we held committee hearings on June 28th. July
26th uh in August the committee's don't uh have hearings at
all in City Council in September. We had a hearing in
October and November it was budget season at which time,
uh, we did not felt feel that it would be uh,
As accessible, given how much time is being spent on the
budget season, uh, and then December 7th. We had a hearing,
uh, as well. Uh, which we heard a resolution calling for
work, permits, for all introduced by all other person
Fuentes, uh, as well as discuss, discussing African
immigration Haitian migration, and the history of the
welcoming city ordinance.
so that was in 2023 in 2024, we had a hearing uh January
30th to discuss the landing Zone conditions and shelter
conditions as well as grievance procedure.
Uh, March 28th, uh, being that it was already late in
January. So, rather than doing a February 1. We went right
into March. We did had an ordinance ordinance calling, for
the migrant shelter, eviction portal. It was when it passed
through this committee and then led to the administration
creating a portal to track the shelter evictions that have
been happening.
Uh, June 2024. We were scheduled to have a hearing uh, to
hear all their person Raymond Lopez's, uh, or resolution
regarding you, uh, student visas. That was later canceled
due to Alderman Lopez, not having speakers ready to testify
before this committee. So that was then pushed back and we
did 2 hearings in July, uh, July 2nd. We had a hearing on
the student visas now that we had the people ready to
testify, uh, after, uh, in that same meeting we had a
resolution, calling our President Biden expand TPS status
as well as, uh, on the agenda. We're, uh, he has hearing on
extreme weather conditions, uh, Planning by the city, as we
were hearing about those conditions in real time.
Uh, July 23rd. We had a hearing regarding ending mayor
Johnson's, eviction policy,
Uh, in August, as I stated before, there were no committee
hearings as there are no committee hearings uh, that occur
during August.
September. We had a hearing that was canceled due to a lack
of Quorum attendance, October November and December was
budget season of this year. So, again, as I was taking up
the majority of the work of this Council, uh, it was not
feasible to have immigration Committee hearing on the
December 20th of 2024, Mayor Johnson and announced the end
of the migrant mission.
So that's a breakdown of the hearings that we had for both
years.
Uh, what we did also have in 2024, in addition to hearings
was a number of Citywide engagement efforts. So this
committee, not only does the work of a committee. It is now
also, sometimes a quasi Department uh, doing work on the
ground as it relates to engagement efforts support of
different organizations. Even, uh, constituent requests
related to immigration that we'd gotten from, uh, offices
across the city of Chicago.
So here's the event types that we also work to organize and
lead on as a committee. We had to know your rights
trainings and resource fairs.
So we heard from new arrivals and Advocates that they
needed information on their rights and responsibilities
that Chicagoans. So, we made sure to have these workshops
provide information on cred, criminal law, cultural norms
norms city, state and County programs, and pro, and
resources that were available. And we had partnered with
Community organizations, to have these events,
We also partnered with uh City Clerk and a Valencia to have
City key uh events and resource fairs. So we work with
organizations. There are similarly to register people for
City key events and then to provide resources, to those
events
We also have legal clinics, where we partnered, uh, we
heard from new arrivals that not knowing how to navigate
through the immigration policy and system. They needed
application assistance, for TPS and work permits when
necessary, we partnered to, for those legal, uh, clinics
We also engage in mutual Aid rapid response. So, when we
had, uh, thousands of people living in police stations, it
was not city government. That was able to provide the
resources. It was volunteers everywhere. Across the city
getting resources together say getting funds together for
food delivering blankets, uh and rapid response. Teams are
currently working. So we partner with them uh and also
amplify their efforts through this committee. We also held
informational seminars where we co-hosted educational
seminars on topics like Dhaka Court, proceedings and
federal immigration
Relief options and we had presentations and we're also
participating and working groups. So we're invited to speak
across the city about what was happening. Um demystifying
some of the operations and programs. The city has answering
questions that people just had in general, not
understanding what the immigration process was or what was
happening in the city. We also participated in groups like
The 1 of data working group and the Chicago was with you
task force.
So in the first quarter of 2021, we had a know, your rights
training on February 26th, a legal clinic, on March 9th uh
a city key event on March 19th, I know your rights training
on March 22nd. So for events in that first quarter with the
various Partners around various parts of town
In Q2, we had a legal clinic on April 27th.
Uh, we helped organize a legal clinic on May 11th and
partnership with the Chicago Federation of Labor and alter.
Um, in Conway May 16th, we had a know your rights training,
uh, May 23rd. And another another know, your rights
training and focus on the Haitian Community, with the
haitian-american Museum of Chicago and family, focus on May
30th. I know your training uh, and pilson uh, in
partnership with the resurrection project and other groups.
June 11th, a city key event in uh, pilson with clerk,
Valencia and Alderman s show Lopez.
in Q3 of 2024, we had a city key event on July 18th, under
your rights training on July 25th. New arrivals resource
Fair, August 6th with Alder person, alderwoman clay.
Uh, August 8th, I know your rights training, August 16th a
business quarter Community ambassadors, business Workshop,
August 17th, a resilient communities and allies seminar
with environmental justice.
August 29th and know your rights training uh near South
with state senator Sonia Harper.
September 17th, a resilient communities, and Ally seminar
with trp and Alianza Americas.
September September 21st. I know your rights training, uh,
with the mayor's office in Alderman Conway.
In Q4.
October 7th, we had a new arrivals resource Fair, October
10th another resilient communities and Ally seminar,
October 24th. I know your rights training in little village
with Alderman Rodriguez, October 27th, Brazilian
communities and allies seminar with the Consulate, General
of Mexico. November 14th. I know your rights training in
Marquette Park, November 16th at Mobile DMV event in budong
Goods, with Secretary of State Alexi giannoulias.
November 21st, a resilient communities and Ally seminar
with trp.
December 5th. I know your rights training in Kenwood, know,
uh, December 5th. A business quarter Community, Ambassador
training with the Illinois, spanic Chamber of Commerce and
December 10th. A city key event in Belmont, Cregan with
clerk, Valencia, and Metropolitan Family Services. All, in
all we had, uh, 29 engagement events across the city of
Chicago, plus the committee. Hearings plus the data
reporting on. Welcome to chicago.org the tracking website
created by this committee on immigrant and Refugee Rights.
Here's some pictures from some of the events.
We've got more. But these are the ones for this side. I
now, see the alderman Rodriguez is present for Quorum.
Thank you very much.
So that's what we did in 2023 and 2024.
Want to make sure people see a return on their investment
for the committee.
In 2025.
Uh what we do, what we are doing is positioning and
pivoting from a monthly hearing process during the migrant
mission to quarterly hearings. So, in those quarterly
hearings, similarly, as we just reported out, we'll be
reporting out the committee work being done quarter by
quarter. Uh, if any of the colleagues here, any of the
members or any of the members of the city council want to
partner to, for some of these events, please reach out to
our office. We are more than happy to do. So, uh, we'll
make sure you all get mentioned in the next quarterly.
Hearing to get your credit for partnering up with the
committee. Thank you so much.
Uh, we also have hearings, uh, for introduced legislation
that any of the sponsors want to advance whether they're in
the committee, or in the council. So, if you got some
resolutions or legislations step, right up, happy to have
the hearings,
Uh, we'll have immigration briefings. Uh, we'll get into
that in a minute more know your rights and immigration
trainings. And we have the Chicago's with you task force
working group, uh, as well as our own legislative and
policy focused for the committee.
so as we uh began uh in February, we are doing monthly
virtual briefings uh immigration briefings with lawyers
advocacy groups, covering high impact Federal and local
immigration actions. As we know this is all changing in
real time constantly, we want to have regular hearings, and
briefings and updates. So, these are happening uh as I said
said monthly online, you can register at bit.ly cirr, all
caps capital B briefing, uh, there's QR code as well.
So in February we cover the lake and Riley act. The change
of immigration options, including TPS parole, Asylum, CBP 1
program. Uh we updated on some of the uh concerns over the
immigration enforcement changes, Fourth Amendment
violations. And attempt to curb service providers. Uh,
March's topic will likely include the state of DACA attempt
to curb public benefits, immigration registration program.
And First Amendment violations,
So we have that shared out. We also have a committee
newsletter, we share out on a regular basis that will have
the links to be able to jump on the briefings or share them
with your communities as well through your new newsletters.
We're also having immigration updates and know your rights
trainings. So there's a trains for immigrant and Refugee
communities and organizations serving those communities on
their civil rights and immigration resources. As we know
the mayor's office has been doing know your rights
training. A lot of altars across the city in partnership
with Community organizations are also doing know your
rights training. Uh, the committee is doing them as well.
Um, so we
Have a Hindu Udo speaking small business owner, going
through an I9 audit needs different research and training.
So I guess this is an example.
The Hindi.
For doing that. That's the next 1 that we're doing. Got
my my apologies. So the next 1 will be a Hindu or to
speaking know your rights training. So we're all looking at
different communities to also address in the languages
necessary we are in partnership with organizations that
speak those languages as a city is inadequate and its
resources to do so
Uh, select trainings were also recorded and can be found on
our YouTube channel. We can then share that information as
well.
Uh, we are also Partners in the Chicago is with you task
force.
So currently we're partners with clerk Valencia. Uh Deputy
Mayor Leon uh
And what we're doing is, we're comprising stakeholders, uh,
representative stakeholders, from City, departments, sister
agencies, like the CTA, for example, Community
organizations, and nonprofits immigration work.
Organizations impacted you, uh unions like Arash Chicago
and other industry stakeholders. Uh we convene a table
monthly in order to talk to different experiences that are
happening on the ground and also what we want to do,
proactively to address issues that we're seeing uh it was
initially launched uh the Chicago Zoo task force in 2016 by
clerk Valencia uh in response to
What we're seeing happen. Now, again, in this
Administration, it was happening. The first time they were
in office.
So, the focus then was on, Mental Health, Legal Services,
diversity, training for employers, uh, education to ensure
the city delivered comprehensive services to refugees and
disenfranchised communities.
Uh, what we're doing in 2025, is the sort of reframing and
refocusing efforts. So this past month, the Chicago is with
you task force convened, uh, to organize efforts around 4
areas of focus and have created 4 subcommittees to start
doing this work. Uh, first is reframing the narrative, uh,
as we've seen in other cities, Boston is a good example.
They've actually talked through campaigns about what it
means to be a Boston Bostonian regardless,
uh, you know, citizenship stand status, uh,
Talked to the stories related to the history and impact of
immigration in Chicago. Uh the history of immigration
policy and how it has changed and how it hasn't changed in
the past 3 uh decades.
Uh, and looking through something that might be called. We
are Chicago to similarly get information out. Uh and really
start healing. Some of the breaches that have been
happening due to the Past 2 years of what have been going
on here.
Uh, we also have a business Corridor support subcommittee.
So that support for local, businesses are impacted by the
loss of traffic due to the ice raids. And a lot, the loss
of Street vendors in certain business, districts of
businesses, coming out of the changes on business hours and
really focusing on the economic impact, but also engaging
with Street vendors and Street Peddler populations and
partnering with the Chambers of Commerce to better
establish communication there so that there isn't conflict
that continues to to grow.
uh, next is a mental health support, task force,
connecting, support, organizations, and resources with
those affected by the trauma, associated with migration
family, separation mental health, disorders, and even
services, for those who serve those who are traumatized,
And finally legal fund efforts.
So, the clerk, um, is really focused on reframing legal
funds and, uh, framing them in a way where it's addressing
the need of multiple populations. So, not only those who
need immigration lawyers, but really also those who are
enter re-entering Society after incarceration. Again, when
you look at the systems and you create them in a divided
format, you divide people. So looking to bring more folks
together is the intent of the Chicago is with you task
force, uh, as we continue to develop those different
subcommittees will report that information out of the
committee as well.
Uh, Community engagement in 2025, we'll get back to what
we've done so far. February 11th. We had to know your
rights training with iser, February 25th. Uh, there was a
immigration briefing with UIC law and nijc February 26th. I
know your rights training for nonprofit, organizations,
March 11th. I know your rights training for businesses and
partnership with the rise of Chicago, March 12th. I know
your rights training, uh, in the 40th Ward for CPS schools
and families with the indo-american center as well. Uh, we
are planning in progress. A March 25th briefing,
uh sorry uh April 11th, immigration briefing, uh the online
1, my apologies, April 11th and know your rights training
for nonprofit organizations, and in April 2025 right now,
another immigration briefing and to know your rights
trainings, 1 is Spanish 1 in Hindi, Udo in Arabic. Again,
if people want to partner on planning any events in any
part of town, we are more than
Happy to be there and partner with you to talk to the
organizations in the area to support those efforts as well.
Now, our 2025 legislative and policy Focus. Um, we'll start
with like the things that we really want to work on and
we're currently communication with stakeholders. Uh, we're
looking at street vendor legislation. So currently the
municipal code, only speaks to how certain
Populations and culture, prepare food. It's not
comprehensive enough for all the different street vendors
that are out there, but we also want to partner with
different organizations. Different communities, right? Uh,
in Chinatown, for example, there's Asian community and
little village. You've got a Mexican Community. We've also
got the black community looking to figure out how to set up
vendors if they can't afford to do a pop-up shop and how to
get them started as entrepreneurs, we want to do a
comprehensive effort that then immense the street vendor
Municipal Code, knowing that it's better to work in
Coalition and address the different concerns. We might hear
from different populations. If any of you have any
relationships with any Street vendors, or anyone interested
in becoming a street vendor, we want to get that
information to make sure that we just make all these
changes at once rather than continue and to come back and
forth.
We also will continue the work on trying to get the city's
language access, where it needs to be. It has been woefully
inadequate. There has been a task force that sometimes
meets sometime doesn't. And so, we are going to continue to
push on having actual engagement, and task force. And
looking at what some of the contracts related to the
language, uh, services are to expand them. So the ward
office is going to have them and they were addressing
things uh, in a more wholesome manner.
A wholesome, I should say.
Uh, we're also be communicating more Federal immigration
actions on our website. Welcome to chicago.org as we know
things continue to change. We'll continue canvasing and
connecting Street Peddlers, to child care. Education job
opportunities as well as domestic violence and human
trafficking, prevention, resources. And we want to deepen
the understanding of City, Chicago finances to reduce
inefficiencies and rather utilize funds to support all
vulnerable communities.
Uh we also wanted to go through some information we
received uh yesterday. So a number of the Committees
received uh information on encumbrances to the committees
or Cuts. So here are the cuts to all of the Committees and
an attempt to bring down savings or to bring savings to the
administration and trying to figure out a budget. As you
all can see all the Committees received some level of cut.
an average of that. Cut was, uh, 4.72 percent, uh, this
committee received the largest cut, uh, 10.3 percent cut.
Uh, and then we wanted to put the percentages as opposed to
the amount, but both are there.
Knowing that some committees have much larger amount to
begin with. Uh, so again, we'll be following up with the
administration and the budget office to try to understand
what the differences and the cuts and how that was
determined. Uh, it does not appear Equitable. But right now
we just received the information yesterday.
So that is all. We've got to present happy to answer
questions.
uh, chairwoman dell
Uh, thank you Mr. Chairman
um, not quite understanding why we're going through all of
the work of the committee but
I guess you have a reason for that. I can answer. We didn't
have. We did not have the administration here. So we also
had to make sure we had enough. I understood that part but
the whole
Uh, listing of everything that was done month by month by
month. I've never seen that done before. Sure it's fine.
Um, would like to make sure that you add in to your
presentation for future maybe this 1. The fact that the
African diaspora advisory Council was uh uh created in.
I think it was September of last year so somewhere that
needs to be um included in the presentation and uh would
hope that they would be asked. So the director of that
Council and some of their members would be asked to come
down and give a presentation on some of the things that
they've been doing over time. Yes, we we would love that.
We'd also love to be invited. So we can also because we
didn't know
how many meetings have happened and what work to do, but
absolutely. We want to make sure that we're focusing on
those efforts. So happy to partner with you and other women
Taylor. Um, because I know we had had conversations about
having. They have a staff person in the mayor's office. Her
name is Nika obasi. Um, maybe someone from the committee
could reach out to her. Yeah, I think we've been we've
engaged, but yeah, I want to make sure. Because as you can
tell, sometimes the office and I understand it because of
the lawsuit they're in is a little more hesitant to come
out full force. And so I think partnering and creating that
platform but we absolutely want to do. So thank you for
that. Any other questions, Alderman Rodriguez?
Um, just in a context of this conversation, I just wanted
to say a couple things 1. Thank you, you know, obviously,
the committee may may not have been meeting but it's
definitely putting in the work. Uh, so I commend the
committee staff, I know I've been
You you've been to my ward and uh multiple times. I know
your right stuff. So just appreciate that.
The 1 thing I did want to do in this in this atmosphere is
commend. Um the 4 Mayors who went before um Congress. First
of all they accepted the challenge and secondly they really
delivered for big cities.
Across our country. Um, the fact is is that we know that
Sanctuary cities are safer communities, um, and that we
have an excellent policy. I was just privy to some polling
data that's say States, quite clearly that um a significant
significant 3 about 3 quarters of Chicago Ones believes
that believe that we should not be coordinating, um, with
federal agents. So, I
I um I want to I want to commend you for your work. I think
part of that reason is the work of our our Council persons
here. The fact that you know, all the women dial gets out
there and make sure that she's pressing for for Haitian
immigrants and other immigrants, uh, of the African
diaspora that our Northside brother and sisters like Alder
wues, who are Puerto Rican and, and, and citizens of this
country care. So much about the Immigrant population and
see us as brothers and sisters. And I don't want to name
too many folks. I just stopped there because I can name
everyone on the committee, uh, who does some great work but
you know, I just want to commend this body, we got a lot
more work to do. I mean, the fact is is that there's still
a significant challenge.
As it relates uh to dealing with this Federal
Administration, they're presenting themselves towards to
us. Um, you know, but I, you know, I also in that same
saw that the issue immigration is way down the list as far
as a concern for Chicago. And so, that's, it's at the
bottom of the list now. Um, with that said, it's still an
still something we need to work on and make sure that we as
a city and as a committee are doing the people's work, to
make sure that those who are coming to our country are
doing. So uh in in a lawful manner the fact is is that I
think we we've had resolutions here that call on the
federal government on comprar to to enact comprehensive
immigration reform which is truly the real answer uh, to
this issue. Um, but we know that the federal government
will not act, uh, at least in this Administration, I'm
pretty sure given their previous, uh, given the precedent
of them basically, destroying comprehensive, immigration
reform, and their efforts. So, you know, I just want to,
uh,
Thank you for your leadership on this. I I, I also, you
know, welcome some of the critiques as well. Look, I I know
there are other committees, you know, that that the, the
budget situation, you know, I thought I gave a higher
percentage and you notice there, I want that to be on
record. Uh, but regardless, um, I, you know, I think this
meeting was timely and I'm looking forward to the
To the legislative work that we got to get to thank you.
Thank you. I, I appreciate, uh, the comments as well, and
really do want to commend our colleagues because I think we
know when you're serving in this role, you're serving the
entire community and you know things can be as they had
had been for the past years chaotic at times and it was
intentional coming from the federal government. And so
seeing the different colleagues here, step up to address.
Those issues is something we want to make sure we come in
as well. So thank you for that, uh, all the person Fuentes.
Thank you, chairman. Uh I I appreciate sort of the
articulation of the work and I know we're going to jump
into some uh
some arguments and and uh,
Having heard us, you know, walking through some of the
federal policies, the impact us at the local level and I
know we're going to go to the lake and Riley Bill, and what
are the implications there? There are, uh, several
executive orders, and things that we see happen every day,
sort of, even the might the immigration and deportation
patterns of deporting individuals that have working visas,
um, or green cards, right? So we're not even respecting the
process, the individuals have gone through um to have
residents here in the United States. Is there a plan to
sort of have committee hearings in a Cadence that allows us
to understand the federal implications at the local level?
I know there is this space of briefings uh, that take place
wondering what sort of the quarterly schedule can look like
so that we can keep up um, with what's happening at the
federal level. Look ice has been in my ward.
Um, about every week for the past 4 weeks, um, and taking
individuals that don't have criminal records, uh, taking
individuals that have visas and green cards, right? And so
sort of this rhetoric that's being put out that we're only
deporting. Uh, criminals is just not what we're seeing.
On the day-to-day and, uh, hosting on your rights workshops
and being able to have rapid response. Teams are obviously
the things that our communities are showing up for uh, but
wondering what our other avenues that we can take. Maybe we
address that in this uh subject matter hearing. And so I
don't want to preface anything but would love to dive in.
Yeah, thank you for that. Um, I think something that we may
have all felt now 2 months into this Administration is that
trying to keep up to the PACE. It's something that's
extremely draining and exhausting. And in some ways, not as
feasible, even if you did a monthly 1, right, they're
changing things week over week. And so, I think by having
the briefings plus the quarterly hearings plus the on the
ground efforts to get the information, um, we're able to
reach the most amount of people because I think something
that we're also recognizing is even when we were,
hearings right over,
in this chamber, as we're kind of
information out but whatever is possible. So the most
people can understand it but um definitely uh point
noted and want to make sure we're continuing and improve so
part of to, uh, to to your point and and chairwoman Dallas
question. Part of the reason it's showing this is to hold
ourselves accountable too. Right, so people know what
exactly is the committee doing besides hearings and making
sure that people see all of that work being done. And I
think there's members even of the council, and of the
committee that may not know that all these, uh, different
engagement efforts are happening. And if you do know, you
might say, well, I haven't seen 1 in my ward yet. So, can
we get something going? We want to make sure we partner
those efforts. Absolutely and yeah, definitely. As far as
the federal questions, we'll have nijc here to speak on uh,
any other questions? Yeah sure. Madal.
It's just 1 more thing. Um, I I would ask before that chart
goes public, that we check that because I'm not sure that
is the latest information about what was uh, taken out of
committee budgets. Because you had me down for 1 something
percent when our percentage was actually 5.4, got it. So um
um, I do have a chart here for you. Um, yep. Yeah, we had
the first 2. We're trying to figure out the percentage on
each. So absolutely, like the double check that. Yeah, we
need to do that because that is public. It's in the public
domain, right? And I just want to make sure that it's
accurate information. Yeah, definitely we know the 10% is
but 100%. So uh thank you for that.
All right, so then we'll go to uh, next we've got Katerina
Ramos, managing attorney with national immigrant Justice
Center, uh, immigrant legal defense project and cities
legal protection fund, who is kindly join us to provide
updates on federal immigration activity in the Chicago
area. Um food. If we could see if the presentations ready
and get that loaded up. Chairman you I had my hand up. Oh
I'm sorry my apologies.
Uh yeah, Vice chair Taylor.
Thank you. Um, I will say great job but I because y'all
having 2 meetings at the same time, I'm missing all the
information. I hope y'all don't do this again because this
is not fair if we're in the business of trying to educate
the folks who come to City Hall and educating all this, I
didn't miss half of what I'm supposed to find out and know
because I'm on another committee meet
So I would appreciate if y'all wouldn't do this.
Oh, I, I agree with you being also someone on the Ethics
Committee so I think we're going to continue to figure out
the scheduling as well. Um, but yeah, definitely noted I we
do apologize for that.
Did you have any follow-up questions?
Yeah, I would like the presentation and also, to be able to
make it public, so pleased, because we want to be able to
share it out to our constituents.
Absolutely, we'll make sure we've got it not only on the
city clerk website. We'll put it on our YouTube channel as
well. So that way we can share all the information out and
include the slide deck too.
All right, thank you very much, share. Uh, Vice chair.
Uh, so as I mentioned, we have Karina Ramos from nijc who
will be presenting updates on the federal immigration
activity in Chicago area. So please, if you would
Good morning. Thank you, chairman and good morning. Thank
you very much to the committee for inviting me here to
speak this morning. Um, and for giving us this opportunity
to talk about some of the changes that we've been seeing. I
also do want to thank you all for your committed support of
our immigrant community and our immigrant brothers and
sisters here in the city of Chicago. Um, as a proud
resident of the 46th Ward. Um, it means a lot to know that,
you know, this committee has our backs and is working to
support our community.
um,
as mentioned, my name is Katarina Ramos. I am a managing
attorney with the national immigrant Justice Center. I
suspect most people know about nijc, um, but you know, just
as a brief background, uh, we are a, uh, immigration
nonprofit. We're headquartered here in Chicago. Um, and
really our look is to try and provide comprehensive, uh,
immigration, uh, reform advocacy and litigation, as well as
direct Legal Services. Um, we do have our advocacy and
policy team. We have our federal litigation team who I will
be talking about a little bit today because they've been a
bit busy. Um and then we also have direct Legal Services
which is more where I fall. Um, but through Legal Services,
we are able to provide legal representation to about 5,000
non-citizens. Each year, uh, quite a few of whom do reside
in the city of Chicago. Um,
So, just a brief overview of what is happening. And I will,
you know, this was as of last night. As we mentioned,
things are changing all the time, they change very quickly.
Um, but we will do our best to try and make sure that we
always have up-to-date information. I do want to talk about
uh increases in enforcement, particularly what we've been
seeing here in Chicago, some of the changes in law and how
we're seeing those effects. And then, um, what we've been
referring to is sort of the death, by a Thousand Cuts. All
of the very small ways that have been used to break down
our community. And to make this system challenging, um, I
do just want to flag these 3 little girls in this uh photo
are actually clients of mine. Um, they fled Afghanistan. Um
Afghanistan. Um, and they are now permanent residents here
in the United States. Um, and part of that is thanks to the
legal protection fund, um, from the city of Chicago, uh,
and they are wonderful. And I adore those little girls very
much
Um so I have here a list of some of the executive orders
that we've seen. This is not a comprehensive list by any
means. Um, a
But they are all. All touching on the Immigrant Community.
Um, the securing our borders 1 is 1 that comes up quite
frequently that was 1, that was signed on January 20th. Um,
we've also seen a number of other um orders coming down
that have been affecting our community here in Chicago.
um,
in Chicago, we are seeing some changes in Trends, we've
seen increased in arrests and in detentions, um, and as
Elder person cuentas mentioned, we are seeing increased of
arrests of people who have absolutely no criminal history
who have not had any prior contact with immigration or with
the Department of Homeland Security. We're seeing increases
of arrests of people and their places of work. Um, we've
also been seeing an increase in community arrests, uh so
people who are in their homes or on the streets uh 1 family
that we've saw uh, the father was arrested coming back from
the grocery store.
Um, so this is really a prevalent problem that we are
seeing. Um, we're also seeing arrests of people who are
already subject to electronic monitoring. So people who
have come in contact with the immigration system, may have
been released with the ability to check in Daily via an app
which allows CBP to know that they are still in the Chicago
area. Some of them do have um ankle monitors on. The idea
is that they have this form of uh connection with CBP so
that they are not arrested or detained. Um, while their
cases are moving forward. We are seeing increased in people
who are already under this observation being arrested and
detained.
Um, we've also seen an increase in ice expanding detention
throughout the Midwest region. Now in Illinois. Um, you
know, thanks to a lot of the litigation that we've had
Statewide. There are no detention facilities here in the
state of Illinois. However, all of our neighboring states,
do have detention facilities and we have seen increases in
expanding those facilities.
I do want to flag that in Chicago. Thankfully, we have not
had any reports of ice activity in or around the
courthouse. However, we have heard of it outside of
Chicago, we have heard in other areas. In the state of
Illinois, ice is showing up at Courthouse. They are waiting
to pick people up that way. We've also had reports of ice,
um, waiting outside of, uh, law enforcement agencies to
pick people up as they've been released their
Um, we are engaging in litigation to try and protect our
communities. Uh, the Caston Neva settlement, uh, was a
settlement that we brought in 2019 and it's the idea is to,
uh, limit warrantless arrests by Ice, uh, it does include
include the city of Chicago. There is a 6 state region, uh,
that responds to the Chicago's ice office and all of them
are expected to abide by this settlement. Um, essentially
it reinforces that an officer must have a warrant to make,
um, a rest it. So they should not be engaging in collateral
arrests, also known as Streetside arrests. So stopping
people, um, while they are driving and asking what
Their immigration statuses and using that information to
detain them.
Um if an officer does make an arrest without a warrant,
they really have to document that they had probable cause
to do that. They also have to show that they believe that
the person was in violation of the immigration laws and
that they think that person was a flight risk, and if they
cannot establish the person as a Flight Risk, then they
need to go get that warrant before they can go and detain
this person.
Um, we've really been trying to use the settlement to
protect our community here in Chicago. If someone is
detained in violation of the settlement, they should be
released from Ice custody. If they've already paid a bond
they should get their bond returned to them. Unfortunately,
I know we no longer have cash bail here in Chicago.
But for immigration purposes, it is still in effect. And
for immigration purposes, you have to pay 100% of the bond
that you are issued. Um, so this can be quite traumatizing
for a lot of our, our community, family members.
Um, we do have a reporting tool, I have the link here and
I'm more than happy to send that around. If you do hear a
violations of the settlement in your Wards, I would really
encourage you to reach out to my team to me to our tool. We
really want to make sure that we are staying on top of
violations of the settlement.
And that sort of transitions to my next slide in which we
have started to see violations of the settlement.
Um, we actually on last Friday, I believe did file a motion
to enforce in federal court? Um, because since January
2025, we know of 22 known violations of the settlement, um,
we know of at least 10 of them are here in the Chicago or
in the clothes suburbs. Um, there are 12 that were
restaurant workers in Missouri uh where the restaurant was
raided.
I do just want to flag 1 of the people that we are
representing in the settlement is a US citizen.
Um, he was born in Chicago, um, and he was handing out his
resume at places of employment potential places of
employment, and he was picked up by Ice. They detained him
for 10 hours before they realized that he was a United
States citizen.
And then released him. Um, and even more worrisome, when
we've asked ice for the paperwork on this, they have not
presented it to us.
Um, so this is really just worrisome in general. Um, as
well as, you know, 9 people in Chicago and the nearest
suburbs who have been stopped by Ice officials, um, many of
whom were in their vehicles. Uh, the vast majority were
leaving to go to work. Uh, we did have a few that were
leaving to take their children to school. As I mentioned,
there was a gentleman who was bringing groceries home to
his family.
I also just want to flag that the vast majority of these
people have no criminal background. Um, quite a few of them
have no background at all. Uh, the most extensive criminal
background. We saw is that of the 22 people 1 person has a
DUI.
Some of them have come in contact with law enforcement for
traffic related violations. Um, and some of those include
driving without a license, um, which, you know, as we know
up until we received the temporary visitor, driver's
license was something that was very hard for a lot of our
community members to overcome.
Um, I do also want to just flag. We have a sample here of
what an ice administrative warrant is. I do want to make
sure that everyone is aware that this is not a Judicial
warrant.
This is a warrant that is issued by the Department of
Homeland Security and that they do use these to try and
detain people and arrest them.
Um it is really important to me that we are getting this
information out to our communities that this is not a
Judicial warrant. This is not a warrant that is signed by a
judge. It is signed by an ice officer or an ice agent. Um,
so when we are having situations where ice officers are
going to people's doors and our community where the write
protect your Fourth Amendment rights, do you have a warrant
to come into my home?
um,
If they have this document, this document is not a warrant.
They should not be entering your home. With this document
it is not signed by a judge so it is really important that
we are communicating with our neighbors.
To be aware of what these documents are. Now I do always
want to say, don't open the door to see what the document
is. Have them slide it under the door, have them, hold it
up to a window. If you open that door, you are in effect
allowing them into your home.
Another really important uh, litigation that we're working
on right now is the Gonzalez uh, case. Essentially this is
a case that limits the use of immigration detainers. Um we
don't have those thankfully in Chicago um or in the state
of Illinois. But essentially through an immigration,
detainer ice can reach out to local law enforcement and say
we are aware that you have this person. Um we would like
you to hold them for 48 hours until we can come. Pick them
up.
Uh, to give you an example of this before, uh, the trust
act in Illinois. Way Forward act, I did have a client who
was picked up by CPD. This is many, many years ago, uh for
driving while on a cell phone.
he was, uh,
Held by CPD. He paid his fine and Ice came to the police
station and picked him up.
Um, so it is really critical that we have these Protections
in place to protect our community against these detainers.
1 thing, that's really important about this Gonzalez
settlement is even outside Illinois, so it's particularly
Indiana Wisconsin. They now have to have um, centralized
practices. All of these detainers are issued Now by a hub
in California. They also cannot be issued after hours so
between I believe it's, uh, 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Or they cannot issue these detainers. Um, and that is
Nationwide, even though that is the Hub is located in
California. Um, but I really do want to empath emphasize
that here in Chicago. Local authorities. Have no, do not
have a responsibility or an authority to hold somebody for
ice custody. All right,
um,
And this is just an example of what a detainer looks like.
Um, just if you are curious, um, I did include that for
you.
Um, so what else are we seeing? We're in seeing increased
enforcement. So we're seeing a focus on people who have
prior removal orders. We're seeing the focus on people who
have had contact with the criminal legal system. However, I
want to stress, that, that is a very broad net. Um, it can
be, um, it is being portrayed as sort of the worst of the
worst are being picked up, but it can be people who've had
very simple, uh, contact with the criminal legal system.
Uh, we are seeing increased in for spent their
We're seeing an increase in what the Department of Homeland
Security refers to as collateral arrests. So when they go
to make arrests based on their warrants and they happen to
find somebody else in the home,
Who is undocumented? They arrest that person as well.
um, even though that is not the person that they were
specifically looking for,
um, we've also seen an increase in pressure for, uh, people
particularly in detention to accept what's called a
stipulated removal order. Essentially you are signing your
own detention or your own deportation order, and you are
waiving your right to have a hearing before a judge.
Um, these are very worrisome. We've also had heard
instances of people being told. Well, if you sign this, you
can go home.
And they think that they're being told, they can go home to
their homes here in Chicago and that's not the case.
They're signing their own deportation.
Um, we've also seen increases in workplace enforcement, so
I think we've been hearing a lot about increases in I9
audits. Um we've been hearing about workplace related
rates. Um we're still we've heard some rumors around
staffing agencies uh being subject to I9 audits. Um, these
are all things that are continuing in our community.
Unfortunately, we've also seen an expansion of expedited
removal orders. Now, expedited removal orders came into the
law in 1996. Uh, traditionally an expedited removal order
says that if you are found within a 100 miles of the border
and you have been in the United States for less than 2
years, you can be removed without having your hearing in
front of an immigration judge. The current Administration
is working to expand expedited removal orders and staying
that they are now uh anywhere within the continental United
United States if you come or within the United States, if
you um come in contact with an immigration officer, and
you've been here, less than 2 years. You are subject to
this expedited removal order. You do not have a
Right to appear before an immigration judge.
um,
we are really strongly encouraging people to be prepared to
contest. These documentations obviously I'm an attorney.
The first thing I want to tell everyone is you have a right
to remain silent. Don't talk.
um but in situations like this if there is a chance that
someone is going to lose their right to appear in front of
a judge, it is really important to say, I have been here
for 2 years, I have documentation to prove it. Um so
keeping pay stubs, keeping receipts, keeping bank
statements phone bills, those are all really great ways to
show that you've been physically present in the United
States.
Everyone D had a question.
Thank you for your presentation. Very informative question.
Uh, on this increase enforcement chart. What's the source
of this data?
Um,
You know, let me check in with our policy team and I can
get that for you. Okay. That uh number seems very high
compared to the uh media reports that we see about
The number of arrests even the number of detainees. Uh yeah
I will check in, we're getting up to 40,000 that seems on a
daily basis. That seems
Quite High. Yeah, I will find where we got those numbers
again. Thank you.
Um really briefly. I also want to touch on some of the
changes of law. What we're seeing this is, as of yesterday,
as I said, things are changing all the time. I do just want
to, oh, there's a typo, my apologies. Uh, I want to focus
on, uh, a little bit on the lake and Riley act. I do want
to talk about the alien enemies Act of 1798. Uh, some of
the Border actions that we've seen and then parole and TPS,
um, programs and how they are affecting our community as
well.
Um, so the lake and Riley Act is essentially subjecting
people to mandatory detention. Um, now, mandatory detention
is part of the immigration code. Uh it is in founded in a
236 ANC um establishing. There are reasons where someone
could be subject to mandatory detention
however, the lake and Riley act has significantly expanded
this, and I really do want to flag
That under the lake and Riley act. Um there is an element
of due process that has been removed for our community
members. It is no longer. If you were found guilty of a
crime, it is no longer. If you have Khan been convicted, or
pleaded to a crime, if you have been accused of a crime,
In the United States. Um, and you come in contact with
immigration, um, you will be detained. Um, so examples of
the crimes that they are focusing on some of them uh are
simple as shoplifting.
Um, shoplifting alone right now will require, even if you
have been accused, you have not appeared in court, you have
not appeared before a jury of your peers. If you have been
accused of shoplifting, you can be detained and deported
from the United States.
Um I really just want to flag that this is a huge problem.
Um it's feels very contrary to the values that we hold such
as our due process values. It's also a challenge for law
enforcement because if you are trying to put somebody on
trial and the person you are trying to investigate is in
Immigration detention, it makes it very hard to find them.
Um so this is really a problem that we are seeing um we and
it um is really just challenging on a lot of levels. Um, we
Um, we do think that there will be litigation challenging
it and narrowing it, but I don't know that we'll be able to
completely stop it from going into effect. Um, on a
positive note, there are really strong arguments that this
is not an retroactive, uh, law which means that any arrests
that happened prior to the date, that the lack and Riley
act went into law, should not count against somebody.
Um, in Chicago, we are seeing this law being applied. Um, we
are seeing immigration judges who are actively denying bond
to individuals who would uh be subject to this mandatory
detention under the lake and Riley act. We've seen some
misapplication of this law, uh, here in the Chicago area by
Chicago area by our immigration judges. Um, for example,
arguing that it should not be uh, applied at retroactively.
Um,
I will say though, on a positive note, we have not had any
reports of CPD sharing information with ice through the
lake and Riley act now.
I will flag, right? That there is a common, uh, security
database and anytime somebody's fingerprints are run. They
go to the FBI. They go through this common database that
ice does have access to, but we have not seen reports of
CPD, affirmatively sharing information,
Um, another thing I just want to touch on is the alien
enemies Act of 1798. Um, as mentioned previously, this was
last used during World War II to detain, uh, Japanese uh,
individuals.
um,
I would just stress that, if you read the act, it does say
that you can only arrest and detain people with whom the
United States is at War.
Uh, from a country or excuse me, a national or foreign
citizen of a country with whom the United States is at War.
As far as I'm aware we are not actively at War um or risk
necessarily that there is an entity that is being
designated with whom we are at War.
we do know that over the past weekend um about 100
Venezuelans were deported uh under this act that there were
were at least 3 planes, uh, that had already left, uh, the
United States, um, before the temporary restraining order
went into place. Uh, there is currently litigation
attempting to get those planes back. Um,
We are as. As I, I think that litigation is even going on
today. Um, the argument being they were still technically
in the custody of US border officials when they landed in
assador
It is unknown. If there were any Chicagoans on that plane.
have heard. This is very unsubstantiated. A rumor that
there may have been 1 or 2 but I have not been able to
substantiate that and unfortunately it is becoming very
difficult to get any documentation about who was on those
flights.
Another thing that we're really seeing is the end to
parole. Um, so that this started with the, uh, securing our
borders executive order that was, uh, on Election Day or
excuse me on inauguration day, and this essentially ended a
lot of the parole programs that we have so uniting for
Ukraine operation allies welcome, which was for Afghans.
Um, there was a special parole processing program for
Cubans Haitians nicaraguans and Venezuelans that would
allow them to enter while their applications
Filed by their family members were still pending. Um, it's
also blocked individuals who have parole already from
seeking, uh, other forms of relief or other forms of
status.
Um I do just want to flag that on January 28th, the Haitian
Bridge Alliance uh did file. Um against this. They have
requested an injunction to sort of put a halt to the end of
these parole programs. Those cases are still moving through
the court system, um, but hopefully we will be able to get
those injunctions
Um, TPS. I have this labeled as Venezuelan TPS but it has
obviously expanded now to Ukraine and Haiti and a number of
other countries as well. Um, prior to the end of the last
Administration, uh, President Biden and secretary mayor did
extend TPS for a number of countries through 2026. Um,
however, uh, the current Administration decided to, uh,
resend that determination. Um, so for example for
Venezuela, uh, if they were granted TPS in 2023, their TPS
will end in, I think, 2 weeks. Um, this means they will no
longer be eligible for work permits. Um, they will no
longer have protection from deportation. Um, they could be,
uh, come targets for removal.
Um, I do want to flag. There's been a significant number of
litigation against this as well, so the national TPS
Alliance has filed against it. Um, Casa has filed against
it and then haitian-americans United. Uh, the Venezuelan
Association of Massachusetts and undocu. Black have also
filed restrict request, excuse me, requesting temporary,
restraining orders and injunctions to try and stop. Um, the
end of this TPS program.
And then, what else are we seeing? Well, um, it's the
little things, but it's often the little things that break
us, right? Uh, we're seeing usayess resources being
reallocated to fraud detection from their traditional app.
Uh,
uh,
adjudication of applications. Um, we've been told that
there will probably be interviews on all applications right
now. Um, the blank spaces policy is starting to make a
return, uh, this was a policy previously, which said that,
if you were filling out your application and you left any
blank space including a space where the computer would not,
let you put any information, your application would
automatically be rejected.
Um, so you have to handwrite none Or Nah, in every single
box. Um, and you do have to do it by hand because some of
the forms asked for dates, but you can't put letters in a
date box.
um, this is something that as an attorney, I find
frustrating, I cannot imagine being somebody who is uh
trying to navigate the system by themselves how this would
affect them.
Um the prior uh under the last Trump Administration, they
did redefine public charge. We suspect that we will start
to see that again. Um, we are starting to already see an
increase in fee waiver requests uh being rejected or denied
um
We know, we will see increases in filing fees. Um,
and this was, um, this was a fun 1 last week. Uh, they
announced, uh, that all of the forms essentially were
expired, uh, retroactive to inauguration day. Um, and that
they were saying that, as of that day, we could no longer
file on any of the forms that we had prepared. Thankfully,
there was push back, we did get a grace period on our
forms, um, but it was
it was a bit of a day waiting for the FedEx box to pull
filings out so that we could get new signatures and
explaining to clients why we had to get new signatures on
their forms because as of 2 hours ago, the form was no
longer valid.
So things like this were going to continue to see um and we
need to just continue to be prepared.
I do want to end on a positive note though. Uh, we talked a
lot about the know your rights presentations and I do want
to thank all of you who've hosted them who've helped us
with them who have led them in your communities. And I do
just really want to say they are working.
And I really appreciate all of the effort that we are all
putting into our know, your rights presentations. Um, I
also really appreciate we've had community members, who are
not, um, you know, from an immigrant background, come to
know your rights presentations and say, I just want to be
here to help. So I really want to just thank you all for
that.
Thank you very much for the presentation. We'll now open it
up to colleagues. Uh Alderman Rodriguez.
All the person sir. Sorry. Uh,
Thank you. I apologize. Uh,
Thank you for the presentation. Um nijc does, some very
important work in Chicago land. I would say
Um I just learned that's not really a word, sorry in the
Chicago area at any rate. Um, to the point I'm very
interested in how the Judiciary is playing a role in
Pausing, halting stopping.
Um, some of these Federal efforts. And if you have an
opinion on the matter, I'm also particularly interested
Um, and maybe this is an offline conversation about
Birthright citizenship, and the and the challenge that this
Administration has posed there. If you've taken part of any
of that litigation, um, and if there's a sense in the legal
Community or the advocacy community on where that will land
with the Supreme Courts, um, 1 of
Um, the thoughts that I've heard is that, you know, um,
Supreme Court, Justices don't need to be re-elected.
They're there for life, so they don't have to face the
Republican primary, um, and that could potentially be a
good thing in that. The law is very clear.
Uh, and if you could expound on what the law is, so folks
can get a little bit on that issue as well. Yeah, sure. Um,
so when we're looking at, uh, how the Judiciary is
reacting, um, it is still, you know,
I think we do see Trends with different parts of the
country. Um, here in the seventh circuit for the most part,
we we have a very favorable circuit, right? Um, federal
circuit, um, when we have seen a lot of these cases come
up, um, at the very least, the Judiciary has been willing
to entertain our cases. Uh, is usually open to putting a
temporary and restraining order or some form of injunction
in place while these are continuing to move their way
through the system. Um, that being said, that a lot of
these cases I think are going to end up before the Supreme
Court.
so, there is going to be, um,
Delay in getting a decision 1 way or the other. Um that
being said I think to an extent that is a 1 way that we can
continue to protect um members of our community. If you
remember on the last Trump Administration, they attempted
to end uh TPS for Honduras. El Salvador and Haiti. And
there was a a lawsuit, we were able to get an injunction um
and that took so long to work its way through the court
system. Um, that eventually
It became a non-issue, um, but we were able to allow people
who at least had those statuses to continue to renew their
statuses. To continue to renew their work permits. So I
think there is definitely a role for the Judiciary in this.
Um,
I think that.
Um, many of the issues that we are starting to see.
Do.
Pose intriguing questions.
Um, particularly on a constitutional level, um, Birthright
citizenship of course being 1 of those essentially under
the 14th Amendment. If you are born in the United States,
you are a national and a citizen of the United States.
um,
there is an effort right now. Uh, well, there's an exact
executive order right now. Essentially, trying to strip
that Birthright citizenship of anyone who is the, who is
the child of someone?
Who I believe was undocumented or did not have lawful
status at the time that their uh, that their child was
born. Now the 1 positive I will say is that this is not a
retroactive it was effective as of the day that the
executive order was signed
um,
It's to me. It seems to be very blatantly in violation of
the 14th amendment in the Constitution to try and limit.
uh, Birthright citizenship, and I would very much hope that
the Supreme Court would interpret it the same way. But I
am, I am not not on the Supreme Court, so I don't also want
to speak for them.
Thank you. Um, and just 1 more comment for my colleagues,
our former housing commissioner Marisa, Novara just posted
on our social media account a history of her Italian uh
grandparents who came here in the early 1900s and their
Journey uh, to Ellis Island was 1 where they bought a boat
ticket. Got on the boat arrived, another Island, and we're
processed, and they lived here for 5 years applied and
became citizens.
Uh seemed to work then and at that point in our nation's
history our uh immigrant born population was actually per
capita even higher than it is today. Um, so you know,
there's a lot of, uh, miseducation out there. Um, as far
as, you know, you know, my forefathers did it right, you
know, yours should as well. Well, there was a real
Sensical process that again I would hope that some some
real reform would happen to make a sun School process here.
Um, but uh, thank you very much for your presentation and
for the time Mr. Chair. Thank you very much. Any other
questions? Uh, alderman?
Yeah, thank you so much for the presentation. So wondering
with the current demands being what they are. Is nijc still
processing affirmative Asylum cases in the same way. We
were a few years ago
The majority of our representation right now in Asylum
cases is defensive um just acknowledging that there are not
as many organizations that do defensive immigration
representation. So defensive is in front of an immigration
judge affirmative would be before the Asylum Office. Um, if
someone does not win their case at the Asylum Office, they
are then transferred to the Immigration Court to try and
win their case before an immigration judge. Um, so for the
most part, we have shifted a lot of our Focus to uh, very
much defensive before an immigration judge acknowledging
that for a lot of people, this is their last chance to
prove their case. Um, and also just acknowledging that
there are not as many nonprofit organizations that do
defensive work. And so as we're looking at um whereas the
best use for our resources we've been seeing it more on the
defensive end and with with the demand on your lawyers
which has always been high. It's never, there's always been
a, a a crazy backlog with clients. Have you seen um,
somewhat of a parallel increase in in pro bono? Um lawyers.
Coming to volunteer. We have actually, which has been really
lovely. Um, so we do have a really large network of pro
bono, volunteer attorneys, who come and help us. Um, and we
have seen, I think an increase in attorneys who are, uh,
motivated and willing to come help help fill out
applications. Um, I work with a lot of pro bono attorneys
um, through, uh, 1 of the clinics that we work on and so it
is really been wonderful to see that increase in people who
do want to help.
Um, I will just also say we've started doing um, prosay
workshops uh, within nijc as well. And I know that there's
some state funded ones as well. Um, essentially we are
doing them for, uh, people who are seeking Asylum, who need
help filling out the application. Um, we are not able to
provide full representation to everybody who is trying to
seek Asylum, but we can have some an attorney in the room
who can help them navigate the forms that they are filling
out the process. How to file it, how to serve opposing
Council all of those elements. We're also doing uh, prosay
workshops to help people who are already in removal
proceedings who have moved and need to notify the court
that they have changed their address. Um, if they are set
for hearings in other states, uh, how to inform the court
that they are currently living in Chicago and cannot travel
to, um, you know, South Carolina to go to an immigration
hearing. Um, and we're also working to help people who have
Asylum applications pending um, to apply for their work
permits, uh, sort of through these Pros say systems. So we
are there, we're providing guidance.
Guidance on the day that the application is filed or helping
them get the application filed. Um, but then once it is
filed, it is um, their application. Okay? Great. And have
you seen on the work permit and just the ad in general?
Have you seen have have they been coming through at at
their normal Pace or
you know, I don't know. Off the top of my head I'm trying
to think back we have
For the Asylum ones. I'm not entirely sure I would have to
double check. Okay, um
Our DACA ones are still tending to come through, pretty,
pretty quickly. Fairly regularly, it it very much depends
on the type of case. That underlines, the work permit. Um,
for some people who are applying for permanent residents,
they may get their permanent residence before they get
their work permit. Okay. So it it sort of varies Case by
case but I can look into the numbers too and get them to
you. Great, perfect. And then I think, um, just because
again thank you for coming in and I think with the the
chair maybe we
Can put out some language to older people.
For their newsletters or other ways. They communicate just
in sourcing additional lawyers from their communities that
can help and ijc. I can say from experience. That nijc has
a really strong training program that even for a I was a
corporate lawyer. I didn't know where the courtroom was,
right? Like it. It didn't do anything like that but you,
you made it so simple that then
Me in certain colleagues were able to go represent, you
know, 25 plus, Asylum applicants and your San Diego office
in Chicago. And I think right now there's so many people
looking to find ways to help and volunteer that maybe um we
can help you with that work. I know on your end, it
probably gets to a point where volunteer management becomes
really hard, but the thought is that lawyers, when they
understand they have 1 client, right? We're not asking them
to take several. Take a lot of ownership so I hope we can
help you in that way. That would be lovely. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Uh, chairwoman dell
Yes. Hi. Thank you. Thank you for your presentation today.
It was very informative learning, some things. Have you
guys are you guys thinking at all about the uh and how it
relates to, uh, the immigration activity. We see going on
in the country, regarding the travel ban that was uh, you
know, 41
You know, full bands and partial suspensions, for
basically, black and brown countries. How are you guys
thinking about that? Yeah, we're definitely monitoring
that. Um, I suspect there will be. I I know there will be
litigation. I don't know if it will be led by us, but when
that does officially come out, I'm sure there will be
litigation to put a stop to that or to try and enjoy that
in some way shape or form. It is definitely something we've
been watching very closely. I know initially it was
supposed to come out last Tuesday and it did not. Um, but
it is incredibly concerning
um, and it is definitely something that we are
We are keeping a very close eye. All right. And the impact
on the work that you do just I mean yeah the timing of it
is is
Suspicious.
Suspicious is a word for it. Yes. Um, yeah, I I think, um,
You know, we we'll have to see exactly how it is worded and
how it comes up, but I don't think that we will stop
representing people um, just because of the ban, okay. Um,
I think we're going to try and do our best that we can to
continue to represent people and make sure that they have
access.
to options to information to Legal Services, because
knowledge in and of itself is so important right now and
good Knowledge from reliable sources.
All right, and then my other question um related to you you
mentioned the Venezuelan TPS, uh, termination. I believe
there's still a TPS termination for for Haitians. Is that
still in place? Yes, I didn't see it on your list. So I
just wanted to make sure. Yes, the Haitian 1 is still on
the list as is Ukraine. Um, I had focused on the Venezuelan
1 just because that is the 1 that is coming up the soonest
with the April 5th deadline uh for the termination of that.
But we are um,
Aware of these other terminations that are coming and really
the terrible effects that they're going to have on so many
members of our community. And thankfully, there has been
litigation to try and get this and joined um and you know
we will we are doing our best right now to try and meet
with clients who've had temporary protected status to see
if they have any other legal recourse. If there's any other
other way that we can help them get some sort of status um
here in the United States. Okay, thank you so much.
Appreciate what you do?
Uh yeah, other person Fuentes.
Just to uh add chairwoman Dow's point. When does the
Ukraine and Haitian, TPS expire. I know the Venezuelan ones
in April Venezuelans in April. Let me double check and I
will get this for you. Thank you should have them memorized
and I don't I apologize.
All right. I've got uh, just 1 question of my own. Um so
kind of shared um you mentioned like tracking on categories
of interaction with the criminal justice system. We know
that this Administration is trying to present any
interactive action. That's kind of being the most severe uh
obviously
I I would not it's not a stretch to say that we don't trust
that information uh coming from the federal government.
Are you or or do you know of any organizations that are
providing? Like the data on those different categories to
say to your point? This person was for a DUI even though
they're making it seem as though they're like, you know, a
murderer.
Right. Yes, yes. Um
Let me get back to you on that. I know we have been sort of
keeping track of it. Yeah, as we're seeing people um but I
I don't know that we have an official number but I can
definitely see if there is 1 and I do just want to flag. I
know you know when you were talking about the task force
and really trying to incorporate legal protection, fund
being immigration but also re-entry into the community I
think right now, that is so important, especially with how
much, um, criminalization there is and how much overlap
there is right now between the re-entry Community between
our immigrant community and really, um, just everything we
can do to support that process. I think is really critical.
I mean a million percent. I mean the example you mentioned
we're like a citizen got pulled over and detained, right?
There's overlap in what that profiling can lead to, we know
that there's folks who are born here who understand the
challenges in like if you happen to look a certain way or a
certain level of melanin in your skin, you're getting
pulled over and it's a different experience. So finding
where all these different communities have those coalitions
is important for us. So,
um, I wanted to thank you, I think it's not
This is a moment in history where I think viewing the work
that you all do and viewing you all as Patriots isn't an
overstatement.
You all are defending. What it means to have a democracy in
this country as we're watching a tax on the Constitution.
And, um,
I don't I know that there's always been many fights but I
can't understand what you all go through as it's changing
minute by minute. So I want to thank you for that work. Uh,
I want to thank you for making the time even to share this
as I imagine. There's a full case load of items as soon as
you get back to to your work. So um,
Thank you, anything that this committee or the city can do
to Aid in those efforts. Let us know. We will continue to
do it. Um, and I really appreciate you being here. Thank
you so much for having me. Thank you.
Um,
all right, as uh, questions have now concluded and there's
no further business before the committee. May I have a
motion to adjourn
so moved by other person Fuentes uh, hearing no objection.
So ordered this meeting of the committee on immigrant and
Refugee Rights is now adjourned.