The Trump Administration’s immigration policies are front and center in the national debate, and they fall squarely on Chicago and Illinois.
These analyses by Rob Paral and Associates address how recent immigration has impacted Illinois, and how the state and its flagship city have responded.
Illinois faces a new era of forced migration. “Forced migrants,” persons outside the long-established flows of refugees, are coming to Illinois under different circumstances and with vastly different abilities to integrate (e.g. being able to work legally or not). These include thousands of Ukrainians and Venezuelans. For the DePaul Migration Collaborative.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees are in Illinois. Illinois is among the top states receiving Ukrainians fleeing war. Illinois residents have stepped up to sponsor the migrants, many of whom are living in the northwest suburbs. For the Illinois Department of Human Services.
A half million undocumented immigrants live in Illinois. These persons are distinct from recent asylum-seekers, and are part of long-established migration streams for which there are no legal pathways available, even though the migrants work at jobs that natives disdain. For the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
More than 120,000 immigration cases are pending in the Chicago immigration court. Many defendants cannot afford a lawyer, and the non-profit system of legal aid is overwhelmed. For the Right to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings Task Force commissioned by the General Assembly.
Illinois is a leader in promoting immigrant integration. In the last decade, at least 38 state laws have been passed to promote immigrant inclusion by providing access to education, social services and legal aid. For the Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force commissioned by the General Assembly.
African immigrants are important members of communities across the state. More than 128,000 Africans and their close family members live in Chicago neighborhoods, in suburban areas and in cities in central, southern and western Illinois. For the United African Organization.
Some 68 non-profit entities are involved with immigration legal services or outreach to immigrants in Illinois. The legal service providers are overworked and under serious strain from large caseloads and the dire needs of clients. For The Resurrection Project.
Chicago is “The most immigrant-friendly city in America.” Chicago, the global city, has promoted fair treatment of immigrants. For the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Immigration restrictions of a century ago constricted the growth and development of large Midwestern cities. Only in the last few decades has immigration begun to rebound and help stabilize population loss. For the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Immigration revitalizes Midwestern metropolitan areas. The arrival of immigrants helps to stem the population loss plaguing cities in the region. For the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Undocumented immigrants are aging, given the lack of legal immigration opportunities. There are 39,000 undocumented immigrants aged 55 or more years in Illinois. As they reach retirement years, they are often without a safety net. For Rush University Medical Center.