Little attention has been paid to immigrants who have lived here legally and have taken the steps necessary to become citizens – full Americans – but who are stuck in processing backlogs – sometimes at great cost to their families, careers, and their opportunity to exercise the most sacred right of citizenship, the right to vote. Read more…
Faced with a void of information on this rapidly growing population, the UAO study will shed light on the assets, needs, and composition of Illinois’ African immigrant and refugee community. Read more…
ICIRR) condemns the recently announced Operation Scheduled Departure. Chicago is one of the 5 pilot cities for the operation. Joshua Hoyt, ICIRR Executive Director, said, “This is a publicity stunt by ICE to put a happy face to the brutal actions that have broken many families apart.” Read more…
Immigrant community prepares for Election season – Hundreds expected to apply for U.S. citizenship on Saturday June 28 and thousands to vote on Election Day Read more…
Aldermen George Cardenas of the 12th Ward and Manny Flores of the 1st Ward joined community leaders in denouncing the distortions and myths used to target immigrants. They introduced a resolution for the Chicago City Council that condemns the increasingly venomous tone of the national immigration debate and reaffirms the City’s support for sensible solutions on the immigration issue. Read more…
CHICAGO, Il – Diverse communities representing African, Arab, Muslim, Asian, Latino and Polish communities joined in support of upcoming May 1st march. The diverse groups included representatives of the African American and LGBTQ communities that have participated in the marches in the past and that will continue supporting immigrant and workers’ rights. Read more…
Chicago, IL – Leaders and immigrant advocates from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and new citizens along with a delegation of U.S. citizenship applicants, some of them caught in the backlog that will prevent them to vote this year, delivered a letter to Mrs. Ruth Dorochoff, District Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) office. Read more…
Springfield, IL. Tuesday, April 15, 2008 – Over 300 participants, including immigrant advocates, community and religious leaders from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and 200 new American citizens, convened in the State Capitol to lobby for fair legislation that would have a great impact on the immigrant community all across the state.Read more…
Tonight, at the city council of Evanston, a pro-immigrant resolution was passed. The resolution urges Congress to end its impasse and legislate a humane comprehensive immigration reform which would resolve numerous issues, and shows the importance of moving towards solutions. Read more…