January 14, 2025
EMERGENCY ACTIONS
– E-mail and/or call your Alderperson to request they VOTE NO on O2023-0004222 on Jan 15th.
– Attend the City Council meeting and give public comment against the ordinance on Jan 15th
- Participate In-Person: 📢 Be at the ground floor of City Hall between 8–9am
- Participate Virtually: 📞 (312) 744-6800 on Jan 13th or 14th and leave a message with your name and telephone number.
For decades, the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) has stood firmly in support of Chicago as a sanctuary for all. CRLN is an unapologetic advocate for Chicago’s Sanctuary City status, rooted in a commitment to justice, human rights, and the protection of immigrant communities.
Since the passage of the original Sanctuary City Ordinance in 1985, Chicago has been a leader in protecting immigrant rights and fostering community safety. For nearly four decades, this ordinance has provided vital protections to immigrant families, allowing them to live without fear of deportation or harassment. This legacy reflects our city’s values of inclusion, dignity, and fairness, and we must continue to uphold and defend it against those who want to dismantle these protections.
Research from the Center for American Progress found that counties with sanctuary policies experience lower crime rates and stronger community trust than those without such protections (American Progress). Additionally, a study from the Center for Growth and Opportunity revealed that Latina women living in counties with sanctuary policies face a 62% lower rate of domestic homicide (Center for Growth and Opportunity).
Proposals to amend the ordinance jeopardize these achievements. By allowing ICE to act on mere arrests, the proposed changes infringe on due process, as arrests alone often do not lead to charges or convictions. They also conflict with the Illinois TRUST Act, which prohibits local police from complying with ICE detainers or warrants without judicial approval. Further, vague language about “gang- and prostitution-related activities” risks arbitrary enforcement, disproportionately targeting vulnerable individuals.
The consequences of these changes extend beyond immigrant communities. According to a 2017 study by the National Immigration Law Center, sanctuary policies improve cooperation between immigrant communities and local authorities, fostering a safer environment for everyone (National Immigration Law Center).
CRLN calls on Chicagoans to take action: contact your alderperson, attend protests, and support immigrant rights organizations. This is a pivotal moment and we must stand together to protect Chicago’s legacy as a Sanctuary City and reaffirm our shared values of justice, compassion, and solidarity.
EMERGENCY ACTIONS
– E-mail and/or call your Alderperson to request they VOTE NO on O2023-0004222 on Jan 15th.
– Attend the City Council meeting and give public comment against the ordinance on Jan 15th
- Participate In-Person: 📢 Be at the ground floor of City Hall between 8–9am
- Participate Virtually: 📞 (312) 744-6800 on Jan 13th or 14th and leave a message with your name and telephone number.
– CRLN
