Immigration groups ramp up efforts for legal help in anticipation of reform

Immigrant groups across the country are stepping up legal assistance efforts in anticipation of laws that would provide a pathway for legalizing undocumented immigrants.

A coalition of immigrant groups launched the Ready to Stay campaign on Tuesday, which includes a website that allows immigrants to search for legal assistance by postcode. Although immigration reform was not approved, proponents hope that President Joe Biden will move ahead with his plan announced earlier this year to provide avenue for citizenship for the more than 10 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

“Now is the time to embark on a new, courageous and generous avenue to citizenship for millions,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights. “Now is the time for the Ready to Stay coalition to dismantle the building blocks that guarantee long-awaited relief and permanent status – we want to make sure that this becomes a reality in people’s lives.”

In Illinois, there are an estimated 449,148 undocumented immigrants across the state, according to an analysis by the DC-based Think Tanks Center for Migration Studies. The five main countries of origin of these immigrants in Illinois are Mexico, India, Poland, China and the Philippines.

The coalition also hopes the website will help prevent fraud if there is immigration reform by providing people with a list of credible organizations in their city, Salas said, noting that people could take advantage of the situation that could result in an immigrant filing an application with errors.

Angelica Salas, the executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, speaks on Tuesday about the launch of the “Ready to Stay” campaign in the run-up to a possible immigration reform. Screenshot

Salas said proponents will be watching to see if any immigration reforms are included as “Congress is underway to put together a comprehensive proposal for funding infrastructure, family aid and other programs for initial votes later this month,” the Associated Press reported.

For now, immigrants could prepare for possible change by preparing documents proving their identity and recording their time in the United States, Salas said. Through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Salas said that supporters who learned school materials provided evidence of how long a person lived in the United States

Pastor Jaime Soto of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network said tax records also provide important evidence of life in the country when immigration reform is in place.

Democrats are hoping immigration reform could pass as part of the federal budget as it would be protected from a Republican Senate filibuster, according to the Associated Press.

Soto said proponents hope to build on the network established in the 1980s during the last major immigration reform.

“Whatever we can achieve through Congress, there should be no doubt about our commitment to go with the immigrant and refugee community,” said Soto. “We hope that with this Ready to Stay initiative we can develop not only more service providers but also good neighbors.”

Rev. Jaime Soto of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network said tax records could be used to verify an immigrant’s time in the United States prior to possible immigration reform. Screenshot

Last week about 500 people and elected Democratic leaders held a rally in the Loop urging immigration reform. Governor JB Pritzker told the crowd that he will soon enact the Illinois Way Forward Act, which will prohibit local prisons from accommodating people facing deportation.

Elvia Malagón’s coverage of social justice and income inequality is made possible by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust.