García, Ramirez, Immigration and Community Advocates to Condemn Trump’s Actions
CHICAGO – Today, Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) joined more than a dozen community and immigration organizations in Chicago to reflect on the work achieved to protect the communities from anti-immigrant raids while identifying ways to strengthen the collective response. During a press conference, the groups and Members of Congress condemned the legislative and executive efforts to criminalize immigrants and underscored that they stand together to ensure the community stays protected and knows their rights.
“The actions coming from the White House are rooted in xenophobic, nativist, and racist lies. We must hold the line and push back every single time. This is about dignity and due process for all people,” said Congressman García. “When you criminalize entire communities, everyone loses. Immigrants contribute more than their fair share to this country and commit crimes at lower rates. Our country is better than this false choice. Call on the President to bring real solutions, not propaganda disguised as policies.”
"This week, the Trump Administration deployed their cameras, their TV personalities, and federal agents in Chicago to create a spectacle of fear and immobilize us. But, our communities chose courage and action - we organized, informed our neighbors of their rights, and defended each other. Thanks to that work, families remain together," said Congresswoman Ramirez. "Today's convening filled me with hope. Together, in the streets and in Congress, we remain courageous and organized; they will not break us."
“Immigrant communities have been through so much in the past week, but Chicago is bold, brave, and organized,” said Andrea Ortiz, director of organizing at Brighton Park Neighborhood Council and co-chair of ICIRR’s Action Council. “There is safety in the community that we’ve built, and together we have the power to fight back against the inhumane policies and overreaches of this administration.”
“Organizations across the state, including The Resurrection Project, are working together to reach hundreds of thousands of immigrants with Know Your Rights education,” said Erendira Rendon, vice president of Immigrant Justice at The Resurrection Project. “Illinois and Chicago are home to thousands of families where people can build a life and thrive. We will continue to remind the community of their constitutional rights and simultaneously assist families affected by this operation.”
"This new administration doesn't seem to understand how it's common decency not to use children as hostages, but we do. We will not let our youth be used against their loved ones as leverage for ICE or our schools become targets for hate and violence," said Viviana Barajas, leader with Palenque LSNA. "We refuse to move from a state of despair or panic because we know our communities are built by resilient people who will not go down without a fight. We will continue working with Congresswoman Ramirez, Congressman García, and the community organizations to ensure our community members know their rights and our students know they are protected."
“I am an immigrant who fell in love with Chicago and call this community my family. Our strength lies in unity. When we come together—Black, Brown, immigrant, native-born—we create something powerful. We create change,” said community member Johannes Favi. “The challenges we face are shared, and so are the solutions. Chicago has always been a city of resilience and action. From the civil rights movement to labor rights to immigrant rights, we’ve shown that when we stand together, we can overcome anything. We don’t wait for someone else to fix things, we roll up our sleeves and get to work. Let’s show the world that Chicago doesn’t just talk about unity, we live it.”
“We fought against Trump’s first administration, and we are here to fight back now,” said Danae Kovac, Executive Director at HANA Center. “Over the next four years, we intend to use every tool we have to defend our immigrant communities, protect and strengthen pro-immigrant laws and programs, and fight back against racist and anti-immigrant attacks. We deeply thank Congresswoman Ramirez and Congressman Garcia for your solidarity and leadership to defend our communities, and we call on our other Members of Congress in the Illinois delegation to do the same.”
Congressman García and Congresswoman Ramirez have been partnering with advocacy organizations to hold Know Your Right workshops and raise awareness through social media to ensure communities are educated and protected in case of encounters with immigration enforcement officers. For more information, go to chuygarcia.house.gov or ramirez.house.gov.
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