Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
The Family Support Network
The Family Support Network
Political Setting-Immigration
Various States with
anti-immigrant laws
•Arizona
•Alabama
•North Carolina
•Indiana
IMMIGRATION REFORM
Senate and House of Representatives= Nothing!
Shocking Numbers!

On average, 1,100 families are being separated
daily in the U.S.

In the last 5 years, 48,330 people have been
deported by the Chicago ICE department,
leaving an estimated 80,550 children without a
parent (Illinois is contributing with an average
of 20-40 people per day).
“Secure Communities”
Program
DONDE ESTA LA REFORMA?
I
C
E
H
O
L
D
“SECURE COMMUNITIES”
 It is in 26 Counties in Illinois
surrounding Cook (Cook is not part
of it).
 Under this program (78%) the
people being arrested and
deported are not criminals or have
minor offences.
 This program encourages local
police to focus on arresting people
who look like immigrants.
 Creates distrust with the
undocumented community to
report crimes (witness of crimes )
 Drains local police resources
ACTION
MEET YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
• With Police
• With Immigration
• Police VS Immigration
• At Work
• Prosecutorial Discretion
• Family Unity Waiver
* The contents of this presentation do not constitute legal advice. Consult an immigration attorney for legal advice.
With Police
WHAT TO DO
WHAT NOT TO DO
 DO tell the police your name BUT
NOTHING ELSE




 DON’T LIE. Tell the police you want to
reamin silent . DON’T give explanations,
DO tell the police you want to remain
excuses, or stories.
silent and want to talk to a lawyer.
They should stop questioning you
 DON’T SIGN Any document if you don’t
after that.
know what it is.
If POLICE arrests you:
 DON’T DISCUSS your citizenship or
DO ask if you can park your car in a
immigration status with anyone other
safe place or have a licensed driver
than your lawyer
take it away, to avoid towing or
impoundment fees.
 DON’T have any objects hanging from
MEMORIZE phone numbers for three
your rearview mirror. It may provide a
family members or friends who you
pretext to pull you over
can call.
ACTION
PLAN A HOUSE MEETING WITH YOUR
NEIGHBORS/CO-WORKERS
With Immigration
WHAT TO DO
 REMAIN SILENT, anything you say can be
used against you. Tell the agent you
want to speak to a lawyer first!
You have the RIGHT to:
 Remain Silent, A lawyer, A Hearing, A
Bond
If Immigration or Police comes to your
house:
 ASK the officer to slip the warrant
under the door or hold it up to the
window so you can inspect it
 If they try to force the door open:
Write down the officers badge
number and the licence plate of the
police car
ACTION
WHAT NOT DO
 DO NOT CARRY FALSE DOCUMENTS,
having false documents is a federal
offense.
 DO NOT SIGN any documents unless you
know what it says, you could be signing a
voluntary departure form
If Immigration (ICE) or the Police come to
your house:
DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR- Officers need to
have a warrant, signed by a judge with a
recent date.
PLAN A HOUSE MEETING WITH YOUR
NEIGHBORS/CO-WORKERS
POLICE VS IMMIGRATION
POLICE
IMMIGRATION
Court: If you have court or
probation and you do not
go = Warrant for your
ARREST
Court: If you have court or
probation and you do not
go = Order of Deportation
Bond: If you pay 10% of
your bond you can go
free.
ACTION
Bond: If you pay 100% of
the bond, you can go free.
The person who pays must
be a U.S. citizen- it’s
refundable.
CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN!
At The Workplace
Immigration must have a warrant signed by a judge or
the employer’s permission to enter your workplace. IF IT IS
A PUBLIC PLACE, THEY DO NOT NEED A WARRANT
What NOT to do
What to do
•Stay Calm
•You have the right to keep
silent. You don’t even have to
tell the agent your name
•Tell the officer you ‘want to
speak to a lawyer”
• DO NOT RUN! This may be
viewed as an admission that
you have something to hide.
• DO NOT TELL the immigration
officer where you were born
or your immigration status
If you have questions about wage theft contact: Maritza Avitia 312-233-8756
avitiam@seiu1.org
ACTION
IDENTIFY A LEADER AT YOUR WORKPLACE
What Is Prosecutorial
Discretion?
PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION
LOW PRIORITY ELIGIBILITY
• Someone facing
deportation TODAY, or in
the FUTURE, if you were
to REVISE your individual
case to see if you qualify
for a SUSPENTION of
deportation –because
you would fall under the
category of people who
are LOW PRIORITY for
the government.
ACTION
• Are you a student?
• Are you a pregnant
women?
• Are you an elder?
(more than 65 years
old)
• Do you have ties with
a US citizen
• Do you have
connections with
someone
in thePD
GET TRAINED ON HOW TO
CREATE
Armed Forces?
PORTFOLIOS
“Family Unity Waiver”
At this time it is a PROPOSAL for REGULATORY CHANGE =
IT IS NOT A LAW
WHO BENEFITS
• Spouses or children of
U.S. citizens
• Those who came to the
U.S. without a visa.
• Who demonstrate
“extreme hardship” for
the U.S. citizen
• These waivers can be ask
for in the U.S.
TIP:
WHO DOES NOT BENEFIT
• Immediate family of
permanent residents
• People who have left the
country already
• People who have been
deported before OR
those who have
committed a crime(s)
that makes them
inadmissible in the U.S.
www.icirr.org/familyunity
Family Support Network Hotline
1-855-HELP-MY-Family 1-855-435-7693
What is the Family Support Network Hotline?




This 24-hour toll-free hotline offers help to Illinois families
facing deportation.
The hotline is staffed by trained volunteers who will listen to
families and offer referrals to lawyers, social service agencies,
pastors, and other community supporters.
The hotline is staffed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish
and Korean.
To volunteer or find out more, contact Dagmara Lopez at (630)
854-4726.
ACTION:
BECOME A HOTLINE VOLUNTEER!
What to do about FRAUD?
If you know of someone who is promoting or giving out bad information or you
suspect that someone is taking advantage of others and committing fraud,
please REPORT IT!
State, city, and county government offices can help you if there is someone, for
example notaries who say that they can help you to obtain documentation,
REPORT THEM!
City: Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
312 744-6060
County: Cook County State’s Attorney, 312 603-8700
State: Office of the Illinois Attorney General, (800) 386-5438
All calls are confidential; these offices will not use the information that you give
to report to ICE.
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
February 29th - Springfield
Advocacy Day - All-day
BRING A BUS OR VAN...
MAKE IT A FIELD TRIP!
This is our first advocacy day of the year!
For More
Information:
Contact Artemio Arreola aarreola@icirr.org or
Stephen Smith ssmith@icirr.org