Dear John, As the Chicago region braces for President Trump’s deployment of federal agents to target our immigrant communities, the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is working closely with community partners and elected officials to prepare to defend due process and the rights of our neighbors. While the president has repeatedly invoked false narratives about public safety in Chicago, the administration’s actions are showing that their true intention is to terrorize immigrants and their loved ones, especially in Latino and Black communities. NIJC and our legal services partners are preparing to ensure that as many people as possible have access to legal counsel before they are deported or disappeared without an opportunity to have their immigration claims fairly considered. We are fortunate to have a number of legal protections in place locally to defend immigrants' rights, including a federal consent decree that limits the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to lawfully detain people without warrants or probable cause. NIJC, our local government and community partners, and the federal courts all will be watching to hold the Trump administration accountable to upholding the rule of law. In the meantime, please help us continue to share these two critical messages across our communities: 1. If you know someone who is detained or see federal agents active in your community: Call the ICIRR Family Support Network Hotline at 855-435-7693 (855-HELP-MY-FAMILY) NIJC legal staff will be triaging requests for legal services and monitoring for violations of our local Castañon Nava consent decree and Fourth Amendment constitutional rights. |
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2. Remember your rights: All individuals in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status. Visit NIJC’s Know Your Rights resource library to review steps you can take to protect yourself in an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to create safety plans for you and your family in the event someone is detained. These are unprecedented times. We will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for your support. |
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Sincerely, Mary Meg McCarthy
Executive Director
National Immigrant Justice Center |
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