Illinois Elected Leaders Combat Fear through Education as ICE Raids Put Immigrant Communities on Edge
Education and Awareness
As the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented criminals continues, many law-abiding immigrants in Illinois are living in fear. To combat this fear, elected leaders are working to educate and inform communities about their rights.
Teaching People What to Do if ICE Comes Knocking
On Wednesday, Congressman Chuy Garcia and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez joined with advocacy groups to resist the Trump administration’s deportation efforts in Chicago by teaching people what to do if ICE comes knocking.
“You have the right to not open your door, you have the right to remain silent, and you have a right to an attorney,” Andrea Ortiz from the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council said.
Quick Access to Information
The need for quick access to information is growing. One Chicago organization created the app “Know Your Rights 4 Immigrants,” which has been downloaded more than 5,000 times since Trump’s inauguration last week.
“This app is available in 17 different languages, primarily Asian languages, but also Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Russian, and has the ability to read your rights out loud to an ICE or law enforcement agent and send a message to your emergency contact,” Danae Kovac, from the HANA Center, said.
ICE Operations
Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said their operations are making Chicago safer.
“Chicago was an outstanding operation. I think, first 6 hours on the ground we removed sexual predators, child predators, sex offenders, two illegal aliens with murder convictions, numerous Tren de Aragua gang members,” Homan said.
ICE has not released Chicago-specific numbers for arrests but shared two photos of people taken into custody here.
Elected Leaders’ Concerns
Elected leaders warn that law-abiding people are getting swept up in the raids as collateral.
“What is very evident is that people are exercising their rights and that has much to do with the fact that the numbers are nowhere where they expected,” Garcia said.
Nationally, ICE reports that it has arrested more than 5,000 people since the efforts began last week.
Conclusion
In the face of uncertainty and fear, Illinois elected leaders are working to educate and inform immigrant communities about their rights. By providing quick access to information and resources, they aim to empower individuals to make informed decisions and protect themselves from harm.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the “Know Your Rights 4 Immigrants” app?
A: The app provides information on an individual’s rights when interacting with ICE or law enforcement, as well as a way to send a message to their emergency contact.
Q: What languages is the app available in?
A: The app is available in 17 different languages, including Asian languages, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Russian.
Q: How many people have been arrested in the ICE raids in Chicago?
A: ICE has not released Chicago-specific numbers for arrests, but shared two photos of people taken into custody here.
Q: What is the priority of ICE operations?
A: According to Tom Homan, ICE’s priority is to remove convicted criminals, although the agency has not provided a breakdown of how many are among those arrested.
