Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights meeting, March 25, 2026
- When: Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 10:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928487?video=1174906702
- Transcript: full text (8,359 words, automatic captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights approved its October Rule 45 report and held a subject matter hearing on resolution R2024-0012421 on barriers to housing faced by immigrant, migrant and refugee communities. Chairman Andre Vasquez Jr. addressed the killing of Loyola student Sheridan Gorman, which several public commenters raised, and then reviewed ordinances the committee has introduced on reporting city interactions with federal immigration enforcement, the committee's enforcement violations reporting form, and upcoming workshops. Representatives of the Resurrection Project and the Sanctuary Working Group described landlord threats, discrimination, price gouging, scams and screening barriers, and recommended stronger tenant protections, language access, deposit assistance and an eviction moratorium for families affected by detention. A motion to vote on the resolution was made, but a member noted there was no quorum in the room, so the item was held; a member also said more experts should be heard before the hearing is considered complete.
Topics: Immigrant housing barriers, Tenant protections, Federal immigration enforcement, Language access, Welcoming City reporting, Public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 30:44 Approval of the October Rule 45 report: passed
- 33:01 Resolution calling for a subject matter hearing on barriers to housing faced by immigrant, migrant and refugee communities (R2024-0012421): held
Alderpersons who spoke
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (chair): Said anyone who committed the killing of Sheridan Gorman should be held accountable to the full extent of the law, but that a shared identity does not make others criminals, and explained that people convicted of murder are deported under existing law. (31:25); Said undocumented residents face barriers to housing even when able to pay rent, and that failing to address this could increase homelessness and encampments. (33:19); Described introduced ordinances requiring reporting on city interactions with federal immigration enforcement, citing a June 4 incident involving CPD. (36:36)