One Nation, One Dream

Today, Illinois Senator Mark Kirk joined a Republican filibuster and with a minority of 41 votes defeated a motion to cut off debate on the DREAM Act in the Senate. This vote effectively killed the hopes of hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrant children to earn their legal status by going to college or joining the U.S. military to defend our nation. 

As Census numbers demonstrate growth of Asian American and Latino populations in Illinois…

 ICIRR Releases Data Showing Dramatic Impact in Key State Legislative Districts

ICIRR thanks Sen. Durbin for his leadership; applauds Representatives Gutierrez and Schakowsky; urges Sen. Kirk to support solutions

Today the House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act by a vote of 216 to 198. The following is a statement by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR).

As the DREAM Act is filed in the Senate…

 Advocates urge Sen. Kirk to not become an obstructionist

As Speaker of the House Announces Upcoming Vote on the DREAM Act …

Chicago, Illinois – As Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced a vote for November 29 in the House of Representatives,  ICIRR along with youth leaders across the state announce efforts to build support for the bi-partisan DREAM Act.

An interview with a younger Latino voter outside of Yates Elementary School on Chicago's Northwest Side this morning illustrated one of the big issues motivating the Latino community to the polls this year: immigration reform, or the lack of it.

Bana Zayyad wants to run for public office one day.

"I actually want to be in politics now," said Zayyad, a junior at Aqsa School in Bridgeview.

Zayyad, 16, is too young to vote or get her name on the ballot, but she's not too young to be politically active.

More than 1,000 volunteers knocking on doors, 500,000  calls to immigrant voters in Chicago and suburbs; More than 100 volunteers surveying voters in 27 precincts

More than 1,000 volunteers will knock on doors, make calls to immigrant voters in Chicago and suburbs; ICIRR, Univision Radio and UIC will conduct Exit polling

A recent poll suggested that Latino voters might stay home on Nov. 2 because they're disappointed in President Obama and the Democrats for failing to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

That's a lame excuse. If you're a registered Latino voter, you should vote Tuesday even if a friend or relative has to drag you to the polls. No excuses.