The last time there was a pathway to citizenship in the U.S. was thirty-five years ago under President Ronald Reagan, say Chicago immigration reform advocates. A pathway to citizenship would prevent the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to approximately 800,000 undocumented young people across the country from constantly being attacked and suspended, said immigration advocates in a We Can’t Wait rally held in downtown Chicago.
Over 30,000 active DACA recipients lived in Illinois in 2020, according to the American Immigration Council, and 400,000 undocumented immigrants lived in Illinois in 2016. The Migration Policy Institute estimates there were about 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. in 2018, but less than 10% qualify for DACA. The rally was to bring attention to the need for immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in Illinois and across the nation and to pressure the Biden administration to push through promised immigration measures, and to stop deportations.
Governor J.B. Pritzker attended the rally at the Thompson Center and promised to sign the bill that would make Illinois the third state to end detention contracts with ICE. The Illinois Forward Act strengthens the Illinois TRUST Act, which restricts local law enforcement from transferring undocumented immigrants over to federal agencies without a judicial warrant.
An experienced DACA lawyer can explain the new policy developments around U.S. immigration laws and how they might affect your and your family’s situation. Knowledge of the legal system is a powerful tool to protect people from deportation. To discuss your situation, call 630-912-0322 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced DACA attorneys today.
Godoy Law Office serves the entire Chicago, Illinois area including DuPage, Cook, Kane, Will, and Lake Counties.
