Defend Chicago’s Status as a Sanctuary City

Chicago has a history of standing up and organizing against harmful federal policies. Fueled by organizing efforts, the city’s first Sanctuary policies were heralded by Mayor Harold Washington in response to the Republican Administration’s attack on immigrants during the 1980s. Building on that legacy, a multi-racial coalition came together under Mayors Emmanuel and Lightfoot to push back against the criminalization of communities of color and raids against immigrant communities being propelled by Trump.

Sanctuary is a fact that’s been hard-fought and won here in Chicago. It’s only gotten stronger over the years across different waves of migration to the city.

Now as we welcome new migrants to the city, Alderman Raymond Lopez and others sympathetic to Trump and Abbott's policies are turning their backs on this history and sowing division in our communities. In the last month, he has introduced legislation to repeal the Welcoming City Ordinance and take away resources from migrant families. They’re toying with the kind of legislation needed to protect our communities at risk of being targeted and from deportation. That’s not who we are or the commitments we’ve made to keeping families together and building stronger communities.

We urge the city to honor its sanctuary history and status by saying NO to attempts to rollback protections and continue to defend Chicago as a Sanctuary city.