Kazakh migrants in Chicago find second home at Qazaq Cultural Center

Qazaq Center Chicago

By Almagul Serikbayeva Medill Reports Gathering around the traditional “dastarkhan,” a celebratory table filled with national food, brought a sense of belonging and comfort to Chicago’s Kazakhs community as they came together at the Qazaq Cultural Center in Elk Grove Village on Jan. 28. Weekend meetings here almost feel like home as people share experiences […]

‘Both Eagle and Serpent’ mixed media exhibit explores themes of cultural identity

By Seb Peltekian Medill Reports Luis Sahagun’s art exhibit “Both Eagle and Serpent” evokes the Mexican flag, which features an eagle holding a snake in its talons, as well as how Latin American immigrants arrive in the United States — by air or by land. Sahagun’s artwork includes sculptures, paintings and installations to  explore cultural […]

Chicago ranked most welcoming city to immigrants, despite hurdles

By Seb Peltekian Medill Reports Chicago is the most welcoming city for immigrants in the country, according to the latest Cities Index of the New American Economy,  an immigration advocacy and reform organization. “Chicago has a very pro-immigrant posture, which no doubt is to the benefit of the people we serve. Our local and state […]

Chicago mayoral candidates discuss immigrant entrepreneurs

Yixuan Xie Medill Reports Four Chicago mayoral candidates offered their strategies on how to support small business owners, particularly among immigrant populations, at a public forum on Wednesday at the Croatian Cultural Center. The forum was sponsored by more than 10 multicultural organizations representing Indo-American, Muslim, Jewish, Assyrian, Arab American, Asian American communities and others. Former […]

More Than 1,000 Eligible DACA Recipients in Illinois Miss Renewal Deadline, USCIS Reveals

By Griselda Flores Medill Reports More than 1,000 eligible DACA recipients in Illinois did not meet the Oct. 5 deadline to renew their temporary legal status application, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. By the renewal deadline, 6,670 individuals out of 8,650 eligible submitted their DACA renewals in Illinois, which means […]

Stoppage Time: Migrant Footballers Wait for Papers in South Africa

Soccer players South Africa

By Jacob Rogers Almost every morning, a soccer team in East Johannesburg gets together to practice. John Real Soccer Academy, as they are known, is a team made up largely of migrants who have come to South Africa to hopefully jump-start careers as professional soccer players. Unfortunately for many of these players, despite their talent, […]

Immigrant community finds way forward after election

By Alex Ortiz “I couldn’t tell them that things were going to be OK,” Jose Muñoz recalls as he and undocumented students watched election night returns Nov. 8 in Pilsen. “All I could tell them was that we are there to support them.” Students gathered at Resurrection Project that night hoping for an altogether different result than […]

One win for Illinois’ immigrant communities: mobilizing new citizens

By Alexa Mencia Immigrant advocates linked arms in solidarity Wednesday morning to “resist and lead” following the jarring Election Day results. Many tried to inspire a renewed call to action for those feeling defeated by Donald Trump’s victory. Although the election of a political figure notorious for anti-immigrant rhetoric may seem like a setback, immigrant […]

Today I’m a citizen. Today I vote.

By Alexa Mencia Is there anything more empowering than a person becoming a citizen and immediately walking over to exercise the right to vote? You decide. (Alexa Mencia/MEDILL) Photo at top: Chicagoans vote early at the 15 West Washington Street location where many newly naturalized voters marched after their naturalization ceremony on November 3. (Alexa […]

Undocumented father takes sanctuary in church

Jose Juan Federico Moreno has been living in University Church for over 40 days. He is taking sanctuary from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Bian Elkhatib/MEDILL)

By Bian Elkhatib J ose Juan Federico Moreno has not left University Church in Hyde Park since April 15. He is seeking sanctuary from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they asked him to self-deport to Mexico. [vimeo 168295184 w=474] Moreno, who is from Bolingbrook, has a wife and five U.S. citizen children. He was […]