We demand accountability alongside lawmakers and community members for ICE’s violence and abductions.
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| ICE disappears thousands of Chicago community members U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has abducted thousands of people in Chicago, trapping and disappearing community members with families, jobs, and roots into a labyrinth of illegal detention. NIJC sued and is working to hold ICE accountable. IN THE NEWS: “These are folks that have been here for decades, have long standing ties to the community, family members, employment, businesses that are all being torn apart,” said NIJC’s Mark Fleming in an interview with NBC News. “The government is using this strategy of arresting people, sending them to unlawful mandatory detention. And then pressuring them into accepting what they refer to as ‘voluntary departure’…give up your rights and we will release you, but we will release you back to your home country.” Watch the full interview here. |
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| | Congress holds shadow hearing to examine ICE’s violence and raids in Chicago In a powerful field “shadow” hearing in Chicago, more than 12 members of Congress examined the Trump administration’s unlawful actions where community members, clergy, and rapid responders all recounted experiencing personal trauma, rights violations, and labor disruptions. Read about our community members’ stories and watch the hearing on NIJC’s blog. |
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| | Federal judge limits ICE's warrantless arrests In a positive development for due process protections, earlier this month a federal judge ruled to extend the Castañon Nava consent decree prohibiting ICE from arresting people without warrants or probable cause. This severely limits ICE’s ability to arbitrarily arrest community members and operate with racially motivated recklessness without facing additional legal repercussions. IN THE NEWS: In an interview with The New York Times, NIJC Associate Director of Litigation Mark Fleming spoke about how the recent ruling effects ICE's ability to target people. “If ICE can’t arrest them without a warrant, that really limits the use of racial profiling,” said Fleming. “We’re seeing more people who have deep community ties — families, loved ones, people with jobs, some of them U.S. citizens — being taken into ICE custody,” he said. Mark also spoke to ABC 7 Chicago and appeared on local television with FOX 32 Chicago about the impact of the recent litigation victory. |
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| | Illinois governor creates commission to hold the Trump administration, federal agents accountable for rights abuses The Trump administration must be held accountable for its unlawful actions. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker recently signed an executive order forming an accountability commission to document human rights violations and abuses of power by ICE and other federal agents. IN THE NEWS: "With today's executive order, Governor Pritzker is once again standing for the very principles that make this a great country. The executive order will protect the rule of law," said NIJC Executive Director Mary Meg McCarthy at a press conference announcing the order. "I believe that the commission will become an invaluable resource in America's quest for justice and durable human rights protections." Watch this clip of Mary Meg speaking at the press conference, read the Chicago Tribune's coverage and learn more about the Illinois Accountability Coalition here. |
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| | Chicago rallies to protect community members Legal professionals, activists, and others in Chicago have come together to protect our community members from ICE’s violence and rights violations. IN THE NEWS: On WBEZ Chicago’s In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, NIJC Director of Litigation Keren Zwick spoke about ICE’s use of unlawful tactics to carry out its operations. "Immigration authorities do not have the ability to go out into the world and indiscriminately make arrests of people just because they are on the street. Which, as we know, has been happening quite frequently recently," said Keren. Listen to the full segment here. |
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| | Congress voting on bill aiming to increase punishment for entering or reentering U.S. without permission After passing the House last month, the act known as H.R. 3486, is currently being pushed through the Senate to increase punishments for people entering or reentering to the United States without permission – including jailing people for as much as 10 years to life. IN THE NEWS: “This is a mass incarceration bill,” said NIJC Associate Director of Policy Jesse Franzblau, when talking to The Guardian about the act. “It’s really a handout to private prison companies just to lock up more people. It should be outright rejected by anyone who believes in any semblance of due process when it comes to immigration or law enforcement.” Read the full article here. |
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| | Pro bono lawyers help people apply for asylum at recent workshop Lawyers and legal professionals at Cooley LLP partnered with NIJC's Recent Arrivals team to host a workshop to help people apply for asylum. Cooley volunteers prepared seven asylum applications for immigrant community members, helping them with the first step toward security here in the United States. Amidst increased enforcement in Chicago, our pro bono network continues to step up to support immigrants with their legal needs. Send them a note of congratulations on LinkedIn! |
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| | | NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER
111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 800 | Chicago, Illinois 60604
immigrantjustice.org |
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