Chicago Mayor proposes 'Dreamer Bill of Rights"

Copper · 09-07-2017, 12:40 PM

Quote:

MAYOR EMANUEL CALLS ON GOVERNOR RAUNER TO ESTABLISH AN ILLINOIS DREAMER BILL OF RIGHTS

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today introduced a resolution, co-sponsored by Chairman Edward Burke, Clerk Anna Valencia and the Latino Caucus, which calls on Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and the General Assembly to establish an Illinois Dreamers Bill of Rights. The bill would enshrine protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - also known as Dreamers - guaranteeing them access to state financial aid and scholarships, professional licenses and certifications for jobs and additional protections against deportation.

“President Trump’s decision to end DACA is not only harmful to these young people; it strikes a blow against our core American values and is an affront to basic human decency,” Mayor Emanuel said. “The United States is a nation of immigrants, not a country that tears families apart or deports children who have placed their faith in the promise of America. Not only will Chicago continue to welcome dreamers, we are calling on the State to do all it can to remain a welcoming place for the more than 40,000 DACA youth that live, work, and study in Illinois.”

The DACA program helps ensure that qualified undocumented youth can seek higher education, work and engage in military service without the fear of deportation. Nearly 800,000 Dreamers have participated in DACA since the program began in 2012, contributing billions in taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. On Tuesday, the Trump Administration formally announced the end of DACA.
The Mayor's resolution, presented at the Chicago City Council, calls on the Governor to enact the following to protect Dreamers:

Ensure that Dreamers can remain in their jobs:

In Illinois, Dreamers can become bar-certified attorneys but lack access to licenses and certifications in other fields such as health care, education, social work, and real
estate. Governor Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly should change the law to allow Dreamers to enter additional professions and remain in those professions even after DACA expires.

Strengthen deportation protections for Dreamers:

In December of 2016, Mayor Emanuel invested $1.3 million in a legal defense fund that has provided assistance to more than 14,000 Chicago residents and trained 350 Chicagoans to serve as “community navigators” that help guide their neighborhoods through the immigration process. Illinois must establish its own legal protection fund to build upon the protections offered to Chicago residents through the City’s fund.

Tighten protections in the newly-passed Illinois Trust Act:

Governor Rauner recently signed the Illinois Trust Act into law and established important protections for undocumented residents. The law prohibits local governments from detaining undocumented residents on behalf of ICE. At the same time, the Trust Act allows home rule municipalities to opt out of the law and permits governments to communicate with ICE about detained individuals prior to their release. Governor Rauner and the General Assembly should strengthen the Trust Act to prohibit any cooperation or communication with ICE when it comes to Dreamers and disallow any local governments from exempting themselves from these new Dreamer protections.

Allow more Dreamers to go to college:

Today, the State of Illinois does not allow Dreamers to access financial aid or scholarships to attend college at a more affordable price. As part of the Emanuel Administration’s Star Scholar Program, Dreamers that graduate from the Chicago Public Schools with a B average can attend any of the seven City Colleges of Chicago with a full tuition scholarship that covers books. Governor Rauner must follow Chicago’s lead by fighting to pass the Student Access Bill (SB2196), which would open up state aid programs to nearly 2,000 Dreamers. And the State should also review and strengthen tax incentives for individuals to donate to scholarship funds that support Dreamers.

The resolution is the latest in a series of actions the Emanuel Administration has taken to remind all residents that they are welcome in the City of Chicago.

On December 7, Mayor Emanuel presented a letter to President Trump urging him to continue the DACA Program until Congress modernized the immigration system and provided a more permanent form of relief for the young people who were brought to the United States before they were 16.

The Mayor also established the Chicago Legal Protection Fund in response to a critical need to increase legal services for immigrant communities across the City amidst deportation threats in a post-election era. Using $1.3 million in unspent property tax rebate funds, the Fund has served more than 14,000 immigrants through community-based outreach, education, legal consultations, and legal representation, including courtroom representation.

This spring, the Mayor launched the One Chicago public education campaign with the goal of
taking the negative rhetoric out of the current immigration story. The campaign tells real life stories of people who have traveled from around the world to call Chicago home, helping to visually depict the City’s promise that everyone is welcome here no matter their race, religion, color or background.

Source: https://www.cityofchicago.org/conten...llofRights.pdf

fl_dreamer · 09-07-2017, 12:41 PM

Lets see what the next 6 months hold.... might just move to Chicago at this point lol

JohannBernoulli1667 · 09-07-2017, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Copper

Source: https://www.cityofchicago.org/conten...llofRights.pdf

But the state is broke...

How will we pay for the dreamers out of state that illegally cross the border from Indiana?

We should focus on building a wall between Illinois and Indiana!

Joking aside, this would be nice...

We would have more rights than legal foreign workers have in some other countries.

Adanr262046 · 09-07-2017, 12:55 PM

Go Emanuel!

BeeHive · 09-07-2017, 01:15 PM

not going there. I already come from a hood, aint going to another hood.

BestBefore1984 · 09-07-2017, 01:17 PM

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Originally Posted by BeeHive

not going there. I already come from a hood, aint going to another hood.

It ain't all that bad bud. Chicago has many safe and fun neighborhoods. I got there several times a year, yet to experience a time where I felt I wasn't safe and I've been to many places in Chicago. Don't believe the hype baby.

JohannBernoulli1667 · 09-07-2017, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestBefore1984

It ain't all that bad bud. Chicago has many safe and fun neighborhoods. I got there several times a year, yet to experience a time where I felt I wasn't safe and I've been to many places in Chicago. Don't believe the hype baby.

I lived in Chicago for many years.. Chicago is safe outside the hood.

Be prepared to pay $1800+ rent for a decent rent in a safer area.

BeeHive · 09-07-2017, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohannBernoulli1667

I lived in Chicago for many years.. Chicago is safe outside the hood.

Be prepared to pay $1800+ rent for a decent rent in a safer area.

exactly, that is why i need to live in the hood.

Adanr262046 · 09-07-2017, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeeHive

exactly, that is why i need to live in the hood.

Avoid Englewood, and most-likely you will survive.

Helps if you have military training

They need you!

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Chicago Mayor proposes 'Dreamer Bill of Rights"