Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Founded in 1988, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (the Coalition) works with dozens of member organizations to promote the rights of immigrants and refugees, and to encourage their full and equal participation in civic, cultural, social, and political life. It is a central coordination hub for its members, ensuring continuity and integration between local, state, and nationwide planning, organizing, and advocacy. This award for general operating support enables the Coalition to assist in coordinating the governmental and nongovernmental response to asylum seekers arriving in Chicago and in need of housing, social services, and legal representation in their immigration claims.

Founded in 1988, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (the Coalition) works with dozens of member organizations to promote the rights of immigrants and refugees, and to encourage their full and equal participation in civic, cultural, social, and political life. It is a central coordination hub for its members, ensuring continuity and integration between local, state, and nationwide planning, organizing, and advocacy. This award for general operating support enables the Coalition to pursue its organizing and policy agenda and also to respond to the needs of asylum seekers arriving in Chicago from a variety of nations, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Venezuela, among others.

Just Democracy Illinois (Just Democracy) is a non-partisan coalition comprising 63 organizations. Collectively, Just Democracy members work to expand voter access, protect voting rights, improve electoral procedures, and break down systemic barriers to voter participation. Just Democracy is led by a steering committee of seven social justice organizations: Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago, CHANGE Illinois, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Chicago Votes Education Fund, Common Cause Education Fund, Illinois PIRG Education Fund, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). ICIRR will provide the Just Democracy steering committee and other coalition members with resources to engage and educate the voting public, partner with election administrators, and, protect voters on election day. ICIRR will have final supervision and control over the use of the Foundation’s grant funds.

Founded in 1988, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (the Coalition) works with dozens of member organizations to promote the rights of immigrants and refugees, and to encourage their full and equal participation in civic, cultural, social, and political life. It is a central coordination hub for its members, ensuring continuity and integration between local, state, and nationwide planning, organizing, and advocacy. This renewal award for general operating support enables the Coalition to respond to shifts in federal immigration policy, such as limitations to humanitarian protection for child migrants and families of asylum seekers; expanded immigration law enforcement; a significant increase in deportations; and protracted litigation over Illinois jurisdictions that decline to enforce federal immigration law.

Founded in 1988, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (the Coalition) works with its 130 member organizations to promote the rights of immigrants and refugees, and to encourage their full and equal participation in civic, cultural, social, and political life. The Coalition serves as the central coordination hub for its members, ensuring continuity and integration between local, state, and nationwide planning, organizing, and advocacy. It educates its member organizations and individual immigrants on state and federal immigration policies; organizes residents to engage in civic actions; and serves as a conduit for reform advocates in recommending policy proposals to state and federal officials. This award for general operating support provides flexibility to the Coalition as it responds to the potential for a significant increase in deportations, a bar to refugee resettlement, and protracted litigation over Illinois jurisdictions that decline to enforce federal immigration law.