As the city of Chicago braces for the anticipated impact of the Trump administration's mass deportation operations, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and community leaders are taking a stand to reassure and protect undocumented families. According to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez has emphasized the commitment to student safety, stating, "Under no circumstance are we ever going to compromise our children." Martinez has instructed school principals not to allow federal immigration agents to interact with students or staff unless they present a signed criminal arrest warrant.
Despite the promise of sanctuary within school walls, the challenge and risk for families travel to and from these institutions—the mere act of journeying through the city becomes a hazardous endeavor in the shadow of potential raids, this new policy by President Trump authorizes ICE to carry out enforcement in previously designated "sensitive" locations such as schools and churches, as detailed by an ABC7 Chicago report. In response to these developments, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has formed "sanctuary teams," groups of educators trained to defend their students in the event of ICE actions at their schools. In the words of a CPS teacher and CTU delegate for her school, Erin, "We started attending know your rights training so that we could know how to defend ourselves and our students," signaling the proactive measures taken by the educational community.
In the looming uncertainty, parents without legal status are advised to update emergency contacts at their child's school and establish a trusted individual who can care for their children in case of detention. Community advocate Any Huamani, working with the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, has been leading "Know Your Rights" sessions and counseling parents on preparing for the worst, saying, "Who will pick up my kids? Who can I trust with my kids? That is the biggest fear, what makes their stomach hurt," highlighting the distress that permeates many immigrant families.
Alongside the efforts of educators, Chicago's law enforcement remains steadfast in their position not to collaborate with federal immigration actions based solely on status; Chicago police stated to ABC7 Chicago, "The Chicago Police Department does not assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement action solely based on immigration status." However, they did clarify that they will uphold the law in case crimes occur, even as the city's immigrant community remains vigilant and anxious about the heightened risk of deportations, Gov. JB Pritzker has expressed concern over the lack of communication from federal agencies regarding the timing and scale of enforcement actions projected to target upwards of 2,000 individuals in Chicago alone.
Parents are encouraged to speak with their children, fortifying them with plans and assurances as recommended by clinical child psychologist Rebecca Ford-Paz, co-director of the Forensic Assessment for Immigration Relief Clinic, who counseled in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, "We want to make sure that children already get that reassurance."
