As the academic year begins, students across Chicago are balancing their academic workloads and personal responsibilities. Now, our immigrant neighbors, including undocumented students and people with DACA status, also have to factor in the anxiety of possibly being questioned, detained, or unfairly deported. Immigrant residents have essential rights under federal and state laws—among them access to public K-12 education and the ability to qualify for in-state tuition in many states, including Illinois. Access to educational opportunities is fundamental to building stronger, more equitable communities; intimidating people going about their lives and pursuing education undermines our values, restricts opportunity, and damages our economy.
Purposely imposing fear and uncertainty on American communities for political theater should not be the goal of our elected officials. The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) denounces the deployment of federal agents to violate the sovereignty of Illinois and the City of Chicago. This action undermines state and local authority, escalates residents’ tension and fears, and places marginalized communities at heightened risk.
PCC stands alongside our communities, partner organizations, and state and local elected officials to oppose these unnecessary and unlawful actions by the federal administration.
To our neighbors, friends, and colleagues who are affected by these decisions, below are resources you can use to know your rights: