Other Immigration Updates
Work Permits for All
President & CEO, Sylvia Puente and Forum staff joined Mayor Brandon Johnson, community, business, labor and faith leaders to call for work permits for long-term residents on April 4th, 2024.
Associate Director of External Affairs, Marlen Mendoza and Immigration Policy Analyst, Nina Sedeño traveled to Springfield for the last week of the legislative session to advocate for funding to support newcomer students, shelter for new migrants, Work Permits for All resolution, and other Forum legislative priorities.
In May 2024, Mayor Brandon Johnson organized a coalition of over 40 bipartisan Mayors around the country to urge President Biden to grant work permits to long term residents including spouses of US citizens, DREAMers and other long-term residents. Read the full letter here; full Politico story here.
Resource Available to Protect Noncitizen Clients From Deportation
The Immigration Division of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender aims to protect noncitizen clients from deportation through two main functions. First, the division works with assistant public defenders representing clients before the Circuit Court of Cook County to ascertain potential adverse immigration consequences arising from their Cook County cases and recommend alternate resolutions. Second, in early 2022 our immigration attorneys began to represent non-citizens, including current and former public defender clients, before the Chicago Immigration Court.
For more information on how to access this resource, please refer to the factsheets on their website. For questions, you can reach the office via email and at 312-603-0636.
Click here to learn more about the Defenders for All Coalition and the importance of universal representation.
Public Charge Reminder
Under the most recent public charge rule, immigrants looking to legalize their status can access many public benefit programs like food stamps, health care coverage, or housing assistance, without jeopardizing their immigration applications. Visit our website for more information.
Presentations
In April 2024, the Forum's Vice President of Education Policy & Research, Dr. Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro and Immigration Policy Analyst, Nina Sedeño presented to the University of Chicago's To & Through Project to provide valuable context on some of the experiences and documentation pathways for the current newcomers in Chicago and by educators from two neighborhood CPS schools-- Brighton Park Elementary and North-Grand High School. View a recording of the event here.
Awards and Recognitions
The Latino Policy Forum received the National Immigrant Justice Center’s Community Change Award on June 4th, 2024.