‘Radical’ activism: A Q&A with Chicago immigration organizer Rey Wences
By Anabel Mendoza Medill Reports Rey Wences is the co-founder of the Immigrant Youth Justice League, which later became Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD), a local nonprofit focused on advocating against the deportation, detention and criminalization of immigrants. Wences, who started organizing for immigrant rights at 18 years old, discussed what makes OCAD different from […]
Chicago judge approved the release of immigrant father from detention, a ‘great’ but minor victory according to organizers
By Anabel Mendoza Medill Reports A Chicago Immigration Court judge ruled in favor of releasing Francisco Silva, a 49-year-old man who was held in immigration detention for over five months, this past January. Despite Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s recent characterization of Chicago as “the most welcoming city in America” for immigrants, Silva’s favorable decision came only […]
Chicago organizers worry New Way Forward Act won’t pass
By Anabel Mendoza Medill Reports A sparsely attended town hall discussion on a major immigration bill intended to advance racial justice for immigrant communities showed the challenges of gaining local support for more inclusive immigration policies. The Organized Communities Against Deportations, a local nonprofit focused on advocating against the deportation, detention and criminalization of immigrants, […]
Lightfoot calls Chicago ‘the most welcoming city’ for immigrants, but some nonprofit leaders disagree
By Anabel Mendoza Medill Reports A month after Mayor Lori Lightfoot called Chicago “the most welcoming city” for immigrants, representatives from local immigrant rights organizations said this characterization doesn’t reflect reality. Lightfoot’s statement followed a report by the New American Economy last November, which ranked the city as first among the 100 largest cities in […]
