Immigration Rights & Resources

Please note: Any text highlighted in red indicates a new or urgent resource.

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Chicago, IL: Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights

"Chicago will always be a welcoming city and a champion for the rights of our immigrant and refugee communities." –Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Website Link: Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights

• Contact Info for Foreign Embassies & Consulates [All Countries]
  The purpose of a consulate is to:

  • Provide services for visiting or resident citizens, such as passports and birth registrations.

  • Issue visas for foreign citizens to visit, study, and work in the home country.

  • Represent the interests of the home country in the host country.

  • Serve as points of contact for citizens, residents, and visitors.

  • Assist during emergencies or crises.

Website Link: Contact Info for Foreign Embassies & Consulates

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• A New Path: A Guide to the Challenges & Opportunities After Deportation
  This guide is for people who live with the threat of deportation to Mexico or Central America. Know your rights, learn where to get legal help, and make a plan in case of possible deportation. Below is access to our complete guide as well as individual chapters. A New Path 2026 Updated Chapters Available Now !

  This work created by the Education Justice Project is © 2025 by the Board of Trustees, University of Illinois and is licensed under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0.
  Website Link: Reentry Guides - Prison Reentry and Deportation Resources

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Hotline for Family Support: ICIRR FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK AND HOTLINE

The purpose of the ICIRR Family Support Network (FSN) is to connect immigrant communities throughout Illinois to a full range of support in collaboration with member organizations.
Website Link: Family Support Network & Hotline | ICIRR

Enlace del sitio web: Español Family Support Network | ICIRR

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• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
  ICIRR is dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society.
  Website Link: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

• Illinois Immigration Information Hub
  A comprehensive guide for Illinois’ immigrant communities to know your rights and access essential resources.
  Website Link: Illinois Immigration Information Hub

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• Know Your Rights: Federal Forces Being Sent to Chicago — ACLU

  The following information is not legal advice. It is, however, a resource to help you understand what your rights are when encountering law enforcement or military troops in Chicago. The following information can help you protect yourself and your family and defend your rights. Dated Sept. 2025
  Website Link: Know Your Rights: Federal Forces Being Sent to Chicago

• [Know Your Right] Immigrants' Rights — ACLU
  Regardless of your immigration status, you have rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. Learn more about your rights as an immigrant, how to assert them, and select specific scenarios to understand how your rights apply in different situations.
  Website Link: ACLU Immigrants' Rights – Know Your Rights

• [Know Your Rights] Essential Documents to Carry If Stopped by ICE - North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
  With increased ICE activity nationwide, it’s crucial for both undocumented individuals and those with legal status to carry documents that prove their identity, immigration status, and U.S. residency. Having the right paperwork can help prevent wrongful detention or expedited removal. Learn about these important documents below. North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic provides free, confidential immigration legal aid to qualifying community members residing in Lake County and north suburban Cook County.
  Website Link: Essential Documents to Carry If Stopped by ICE - North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic

• [Know Your Rights] What to Do In an ICE Raid: Essential Documents to Carry for Safety - Shepelsky Law Group
  Knowing what to do if ICE stops you and having the right documents ICE raid can make a significant difference in protecting your rights and ensuring your safety. Preparing these essential documents can help you navigate the legal process more effectively. It ensures that you have the necessary support in a possible detention.
  Website Link: What Documents Do you Need in an ICE Raid?

• Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE - NIJC
  All individuals in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status. The following information can help you protect yourself and your family, and defend your rights. Learn how to create a safety plan, defend your rights, and have contacts for support.
  Website Link: NIJC Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE

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• "No te Dejes" Know Your Rights Series / "No te Dejes" Introduction
  Fear No More! The Trump Administration’s main tactic on immigration is stoking fear. They want to intimidate undocumented people into giving up their rights without putting up a fight. They have already persuaded a significant segment of Americans to be fearful of migrants. And Mr. Trump and his closest advisors are scared people themselves. Let’s help them out. Let’s liberate everyone from these unfounded fears.

  Website Link: No te Dejes Know Your Rights

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• Real ID - Requirements for Travel and Access to Federal Facilities (Illinois Specific)
  You NEED a REAL ID in Illinois if you do not have a valid U.S. passport and use airplanes for domestic travel, or if you plan to visit military bases or secure federal facilities.

  Website Link: https://realid.ilsos.gov/

• Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas
  All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.

  Languages Available for Printing Your Own Red Cards:

  • Arabic

  • Chinese

  • English

  • Farsi

  • French

  • Haitian Creole

  • Hmong

  • Khmer

  • Korean

  • Pashto

  • Portuguese

  • Punjabi

  • Russian

  • Spanish

  • Tagalog

  • Tigrinya

  • Ukrainian

  • Vietnamese

  You can access the artwork for printing in all these languages from the ILRC’s website.

  Website Link: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas

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• Serie "No te Dejes" - Derechos y Recursos / Introducción "No te Dejes"
  ¡No tengas miedo más! La principal táctica de la Administración Trump sobre inmigración es generar miedo. Quieren intimidar a las personas indocumentadas para que abandonen sus derechos sin resistirse. Ya han logrado persuadir a una parte significativa de los estadounidenses para que tengan miedo de los migrantes. Y el Sr. Trump y sus asesores más cercanos son personas temerosas ellos mismos. Ayudémosles. Liberemos a todos de estos temores infundados.

  Enlace del sitio web: No te Dejes Know Your Rights

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• Warrants and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights - ACLU
  If ICE knocks on your front door, don’t open it and ask to see a warrant. Agents may show you a judicial warrant issued by a court. Or they might have an administrative warrant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. There’s a critical difference between the two.
  Website Link: Warrants and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights

• We Have Rights – Bilingual Version
  Una campaña de empoderamiento para preparar y defender de manera segura nuestros derechos durante encuentros con la agencia de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE).
  Enlace del sitio web: We Have Rights – Spanish Version

Workplace Rights - Illinois Workers in Action

IWA offers training on workplace rights and supports workers in filing complaints and organizing for change. We promote collective empowerment to challenge and improve unjust working conditions. Their team assists with cases involving:

• Wage theft

• Meal and rest break violations

• Discrimination

• Sexual harassment

• Work-related injuries

Website Link: Workplace Rights - Illinois Workers in Action