Immigrant rights are essential for health equity! In today’s harsh political environment, Health & Medicine stands in solidarity with immigrants.
We have assembled the below resources from government and nonprofit organizations that provide information for both immigrants and partner agencies. These resources include know-your-rights information, signage, guidance for agencies to prepare (especially health care settings), and mental health and trauma-informed-related information.
As in the past, Health & Medicine is urging health care organizations, including hospitals and clinics, to develop tailored policies, procedures, training, legal referrals, know-your-rights information sharing, and advocacy approaches to best support immigrants and ensure safe, welcoming, and affirming health care for all.
If they have not done so, a first step health care organizations can take is to establish an internal committee to begin thinking through these issues. Health & Medicine will host a forum on February 20, 2025, to provide guidance to healthcare systems as they protect their staff and patients. The save-the-date and registration information will be coming soon.
Please share feedback or suggested additions to the below list here.
State and Local Government Resources
Illinois Attorney General’s Office: Know Your Rights
Illinois Department of Human Services: Know Your Rights
Chicago Public Schools: Reminders for CPS Families Regarding New Presidential Administration
Chicago Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights: Know Your Rights & Resources
Nonprofit and Immigrant Rights Groups’ Resources
ACLU Immigrants’ Rights: Police or ICE Are at My Home
Arab American Family Services: Immigration Services
CAIR-Chicago: List of Resources
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR):
- English: Know Your Rights When Interacting with Immigration Officers
- Spanish: Conozca Sus Derchos Si cree que es testigo de una actividad del ICE
- Family Support Network and Hotline
Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Know Your Rights Cards
Immigrant Defense Project: Know Your Rights with ICE
Muslims for Just Futures: Know Your Rights
National Immigrant Justice Center: Know Your Rights:
National Immigration Law Center: Everyone Has Basic Rights (multiple languages)
Immigrant Defense Project: Protecting Your Communities Against ICE
The Resurrection Project: Know Your Rights
We Have Rights (available in several languages): An empowerment campaign to prepare for and safely defend our rights during encounters with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).
For Partner Agencies and Health Care Settings
Illinois Alliance for Welcoming Health Care
National Immigration Law Center: Health Care Providers and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights, Know Your Patients’ Rights
- Updated recommendations based on the rescission of the “protected areas” policy: Factsheet: Trump’s Rescission of Protected Areas Policies Undermines Safety for All – NILC
- A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace (Note: this is from 2017, but should still apply. This resource is expected to be updated for 2025)
Continuum of Care Webinar: Guidance on ICE Raids at Homeless Services & Shelters (click to register) Thursday, January 23, 1:00 p.m.
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights Case Consultation and Trainings:Technical Assistance Program
Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Resources
Administration for Children and Families: Resources Specific to Immigrant or Refugee Populations
Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition: Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Immigrant Learning Center: Immigrant Trauma and Mental Health Resources
United We Dream:
- Fostering Resilience in our Immigrant Families & Communities: Strategies for Building Support Groups in the Face of Adversity
- Resilience and Community Care Toolkit
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Trauma-Informed Care for Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth: Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention (podcast available in multiple languages)