The United States government wants Rigo Padilla to go back where he came from.

If he doesn't return to Mexico within the next 14 days, federal immigration agents have promised to do the job for him.

Never mind that Padilla's parents brought him here from Mexico at age 6 and that he hasn't been back there in the 15 years since.

Never mind that Chicago is the only home the 21-year-old can remember and that he has no close relatives left in Mexico.

Never mind that he's a good kid, a top student and a longtime volunteer with Erie Neighborhood House, a community social service agency. Read more…

For months now, the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) has kept a spotlight on Rigoberto Padilla, a 19-year-old University of Illinois-Chicago student who is staring down a December deportation deadline. As the coalition points out, Rigo's situation -- he is facing deportation due to a misdemeanor DUI offense -- perfectly represents the nation's broken immigration system and is a strong reminder of why federal reforms can't wait. From a recent ICIRR statement: Read more…

Association House of Chicago will kick off its first of a series of monthly citizenship workshops on Nov. 21. The event will assist qualifying lawful permanent residents with everything they need to fill out the application for naturalization. Bilingual volunteers will be on hand to assist in filling out the application. Lawyers will also be present to screen for any possible legal issues. Read more…

Officials call for compassion for immigrants

At Wheaton Chinese Alliance Church, where most members are Chinese immigrants, the Rev. Benjamin Tzeng counsels members of the congregation on helping others and being a light in the community. But, when the conversation turns to the pastor's support of long-term Immigration reform, disagreements sometimes erupt. Read more…

It’s been a long road toward citizenship for the Vásquez family. It all started in 1952, when Agustín Vásquez began working in the fields of Arizona, Florida and California. His trips as a bracero worker between the U.S. and Maravatío, Michoacan – where he and his wife Agapita started their family of 12 – paved the way for the family to settle in Chicago several decades later. Read more…

Fairmont City's long history of Spanish-speaking residents
Walk into Fairmont City Village Hall and there's a good chance a Spanish-English conversation will be underway.

With just over half of the 2,436 people living here classified as Hispanic in the most recent census and about 48 percent speaking a language other than English as their first language, the business of government might be expected to grind to a halt.

But that's not the case.

"There's someone available at any hour who can help translate," said Village President Alex Bregen. "We have Spanish-speaking workers. It's a priority - you have to do it."

The reason the town can deal with the language barrier, even occasionally putting out a bilingual newsletter, is its history. The Rev. David Wilke, pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Fairmont City, points to the church's Spanish roots. Read more…

Oct 21, 2009

Immigrant rights groups in Illinois are worried a possible fee increase will discourage people to apply for citizenship.

“A new increase would really kill all those encouraged people who would really love to become citizens,” said Grazyna Zajaczkowska of the Polish American Association. “And we all know how important, for everyone who lives here, …. it is to become [a] citizen.” Read more…

Pointing to a precipitous drop in the number of immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship since federal processing fees were raised two years ago, immigrant advocates in Chicago called on U.S. officials today not to raise them again in the face of a looming budget shortfall.

Higher processing fees for citizenship applications and other services are being considered to close a projected $118 million budget gap next year, said Chris Ratigan, spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Washington. Read more…

Congressman Luis Gutierrez plans to outline details of an immigration reform bill he's drafting.

The Chicago Democrat says he's been overwhelmed by advocates and organizations urging him to introduce comprehensive immigration legislation. He says there's support for "compassionate legislation" and there are votes to pass it.

Many activists are disappointed that movement on immigration reform hasn't happened earlier. Read more…

A group of immigrant advocates from Massachusetts and New Hampshire are traveling to Washington to rally and lobby Congress in anticipation of changes in immigration laws.

The delegation of about two dozen members of the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition was scheduled to board a bus last night to join groups from around the country in the nation’s capital. Read more…