Essential Resources for Immigrants & Allies

Community Advisory

The following information is NOT legal advice. If you have legal questions, consult an attorney or reputable legal service organization such as The Resurrection Project, the National Immigrant Justice Center or a private immigration attorney.

This was last updated on 12/20/2024.

By: Nina Sedeño

Immigrant communities are understandably worried about the new administration taking office on January 20, 2025. We have been here before. As Latino Policy Forum President and CEO Sylvia Puente reaffirmed in a recent statement: “The Latino Policy Forum has always spoken truth, advocated for justice, acted with civility and integrity, and put trust in democracy. We are here for you.” The Forum will remain vigilant to changes in policies impacting Latino and immigrant families in Illinois and provide relevant resources and information as it becomes available.

Remember: You are not alone. Illinois is a sanctuary state, and Chicago is a sanctuary city. This means that both welcome and protect immigrants by limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials. Governor JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have publicly expressed support for protecting immigrants and are already looking for ways to strengthen existing protections, such as the IL TRUST Act and the Chicago Welcoming City Ordinance.

The Latino Policy Forum has always spoken truth, advocated for justice, acted with civility and integrity, and put trust in democracy. We are here for you.
Sylvia Puente, Latino Policy Forum President & CEO

In the meantime, here are some steps that YOU can take NOW to better protect yourself and your loved ones. Whether you’re an immigrant, a family member, or an ally, these resources are for you.

For Undocumented Individuals (without DACA or other form of protective status)

The promise of mass deportations is particularly concerning. Nevertheless, it is important to be prepared with the right legal resources and information. The National Partnership for New Americans has compiled a live document with legal protection resources and materials from across the country that will continue to be updated.

For additional information and resources in Illinois such as a list of legal service providers, Know Your Rights (KYR) trainings, safety planning for families, and how to report an ICE raid/arrest, please visit The Resurrection Project’s Immigrant Justice website. Other safety planning resources can be found here and here.

To request a KYR training with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), including “Train the Trainer,” please fill out this form.

Increase the Peace (ITP), in partnership with Beyond Legal Aid Clinic, is providing legal consultations that take place every Monday from 3-8 pm at 1900 W 48th Street. Sign up here: increasethepeacechicago.org/legal-aid.
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Are you being detained by ICE or seeking assistance for a loved one detained by ICE? Do you have a case before the Immigration Court in Chicago? The Immigration Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office aims to protect noncitizen clients from deportation.

The division works with assistant public defenders representing clients before the Circuit Court of Cook County to ascertain potential adverse immigration consequences arising from their Cook County cases and recommend alternate resolutions.

Their immigration attorneys represent noncitizens, including current and former public defender clients, before the Chicago Immigration Court. The Immigration Division can be reached at pdimmigrationunit@cookcountyil.gov and at 312-603-0636.

Are you an undocumented student (without DACA or TPS) seeking a higher education? Did you come to the U.S. before the age of 18 and before November 1, 2019? If you answered yes, you may be eligible for TheDream.US Scholarships.

Are you an educator, or do you work on a college campus? See this resource from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration on how to support undocumented students and employees during this time, including data protections for students applying for FAFSA.

The Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health (CIMH) and Lurie Children’s Hospital Center for Childhood Resilience released an updated resource packet entitled “Post-Election Support for Immigrant Youth and Families in Illinois.“ Available in English and Spanish, the packet provides information on: benefits for immigrants of all statuses, important strategies for professionals supporting immigrant youth, key ways parents and caregivers can support immigrant children, and crisis resources.

For DACA Recipients

As you know, DACA remains in legal jeopardy. On October 10, 2024, a panel of judges on the New Orleans-based Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit heard oral arguments in a legal challenge of the program. While a ruling has not yet been made, any decision will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court. Stay up-to-date on latest developments here.

As the policy stands now, USCIS will continue processing and approving DACA renewal applications, but will not grant any initial applications for DACA. If your DACA or work permit expires within the next 4-5 months, we strongly encourage you to start the renewal process ASAP.

Not sure when you should renew your DACA? Use the National Immigration Law Center’s (NILC) Renewal Calculator tool.

For resources and a list of organizations in Illinois assisting with renewal applications, visit the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) website here.

DACA recipients in Illinois can now apply for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Enrolling in the ACA does not count toward public charge and enrolling will have no impact on a recipient’s current or future status. Learn more about how to apply here.

To stay up-to-date on changes to public charge, please visit the Protecting Immigrant Families-IL website. If community members need assistance in accessing public benefits or healthcare services, call the ICIRR Family Support Network Hotline at 1-855-435-7693, available 24/7 in English, Spanish, Korean and Polish.

For Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration will likely target protections like asylum and other legal pathways. The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), a member-based organization that seeks to advocate and empower individuals fleeing violence, recommends that asylum seekers should consider taking the following steps before January 2025:

1. Apply for your first work permit if you are eligible, even if you do not plan to work.
2. Apply to renew your work permit if you have a two-year work permit that will expire before 2028.
3. Consider applying for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in addition to asylum, if you are eligible.
4. Consider applying for another immigration status in addition to asylum, if you are eligible.
5. Sign up for free ASAP membership to get urgent immigration updates.

For more information on each step, visit ASAP’s website.

For New Arrivals in Chicago

As of October 2024, the New Arrival (NA) shelter system will begin transitioning to the One System Initiative. This new unified sheltering system merges the existing NA shelter system with current legacy shelters with the aim to serve unhoused Chicagoans. During this transition, the City of Chicago will be implementing a series of changes, which include accelerating the resettlement of current shelter residents and consolidating the current NA shelter system. Stay up-to-date on changes here.

View the Resource Folder for New Arrivals & Providers (compiled and updated by the Forum) here.

For Allies

Allies and advocates have a role to play, too. If the Trump administration carries out its mass deportation plan, it would significantly impact America’s economy and way of life, not to mention the nearly 28 million U.S. residents that live in a mixed-status or undocumented household. The American Immigration Council estimates it would cost $88 billion to deport a million people a year, for a total cost of $967.9 billion over the course of more than a decade. This is money that could be used to fund more schools, build new homes, and lift children out of poverty. We must not stay silent.

Contact your members of Congress and the Biden administration and urge them to take critical steps to protect refugees during the lame duck period. Some actions he could take include, but are not limited to:

1. Appeal the Parole in Place (PIP) decision
2. Redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for all eligible countries
3. Expedite the processing of renewal applications for DACA recipients
4. Prioritize adjudication of pending asylum claims
5. Expedite refugee arrivals* and provide flexible, supplemental resources to resettlement sites to increase capacity
6. Terminate remaining contracts with private detention facilities

*The Biden administration launched the innovative Welcome Corps program in early 2023, allowing communities across the country to sponsor and welcome refugees to their neighborhoods. Learn more here.

Knowledge is power. Know your rights, too! Learn how to protect yourself so you can better protect others. Visit The Resurrection Project’s Immigrant Justice website for information and resources.