Chicago approved the Accountability on Communication and Transparency Ordinance (ACT), designed to bolster their Welcoming City Ordinance, on January 15, 2019. Passed by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the City Council and co-sponsored by Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Alderman Michael Rodriguez, ACT is intended to strengthen protections and provide additional resources for Chicago’s immigrant communities. In a public opinion piece published in the Chicago Sun-Times, Lightfoot explained how ACT strengthens immigrant protections:
This past Friday, the deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement came to Chicago to announce a major problem: Chicago-area ICE arrests fell dramatically in 2019.
The reason? Local officials refused to play ball.
Since becoming mayor, one of the things I’m most proud of is our unequivocal support of Chicago’s immigrant and refugee communities. It’s a position directly drawn from our belief that our nation’s strength lies in our diversity, and that the values which have made us a beacon of hope are sacred and need to be protected.
• prohibit ICE from accessing Chicago Police Department databases
• codify that ICE cannot turn to CPD for assistance with immigration enforcement operations
• establish reporting requirements on the police department’s compliance with the Welcoming City Ordinance
• establish reporting requirements to both my office and the Inspector General regarding the police department’s compliance with the Welcoming City Ordinance
In 2019 Chicago was named the most immigrant-friendly city in America. In a climate of anti-immigration, Chicago and the state of Illinois welcome immigrants and have proclaimed the state and city to be welcoming to undocumented immigrants. Chicago strengthens immigrant protections and opportunities.
Mario Godoy and the other experienced immigration attorneys at the Godoy Law Office can assess your situation and application status. With experience in many different types of immigration cases and understanding of the impact of new immigration regulations, it can be beneficial for you to contact an immigration lawyer today. Please call us at 855-554-6369.
