Immigration Resources

NOTE: This information is provided for general awareness only and should not be considered legal advice. Those with specific questions about their rights should consult an attorney.

• You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions if stopped by federal agents or law enforcement — even if there is a warrant.
• You do not have to share your birthplace, your immigration or citizenship status, or the birthplace or status of anyone else.
• You are not required to consent to a search (please be aware that local police do have the right to pat you down if they reasonably suspect a weapon).
• You do not need to let any agent into your home unless they have a warrant signed by a judge.
  • IMPORTANT: A warrant signed by a judge — also known as a judicial warrant — permits federal agents to enter your home. An administrative warrant DOES NOT permit federal agents to enter your home. Page two of this resource shows examples of each kind of warrant.
• If stopped on the street, you have the right to ask if you are free to leave.

Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Family Support Network and Hotline [ English |  Spanish ]

The purpose of the ICIRR Family Support Network (FSN) is to connect immigrant communities throughout Illinois to a full range of support in collaboration with member organizations

Know Your Rights Resource Guide [ English |  Spanish |  French ]

Chicago IMMR’s Resource Linktree

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMMR) has issued a Know Your Rights Resource Guide, which includes critical information about legal services and hotlines, key protections like the Welcoming City Ordinance, emergency family planning resources, healthcare options for all, including undocumented individuals, and details about how to recognize and report hate crimes and hate incidents. Visit the IMMR’s Linktree for more resources.

City of Chicago's Know Your Rights Flyer [ English ]

Know and Exercise Your Rights [ English, Korean ]

This resource provided by the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), showing students and families how they can protect themselves and defend their rights

Refugee Rights Rights Card [ English, Spanish | Mandarin, Polish ]

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Rights Card can be printed out and easily carried.

Know Your Rights Fact Sheet [ English | Polish | Spanish ]

The Illinois Attorney General's website provides critical information that can help students and families protect themselves and defend their rights.

Know Your Rights and What Immigrant Families Should Do Now [ English | Spanish | Chinese | Korean | Arabic | Russian | Tagalog | Vietnamese ]

This resource provided by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) shows actions that families can take to prepare themselves.

Full CPS List of Non-profit Agencies Offering Immigration Assistance:
Sortable by Neighborhood, CPS Network, Elected Board Member District.

The Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) has created a list of dozens of local non-profit agencies providing free or low-cost assistance with immigration matters and forms, including:

• Family Visa Petitions (I-130)
• VAWA - Battered Spouse Self-petitions (I-360)
• Adjustment of Status/Residence/Consular Processing (I-485, OF-230)
• Waivers of Inadmissibility (I-212, I-601)
• Conditional Residence (I-751)
• Green Card Replacement (I-90)
• Naturalization (N-400)
• Acquired/Derivative Citizenship (N-600)
• DACA (I-821D)
• Asylum (I-589)
• Deportation Defense

With federal activity still high in Chicago, here are some ways CPS students and families can stay safe traveling to-and-from school, and moving within the community.

Tips for Traveling

• Plan Ahead. Before leaving home, know your walking path. If your school has a Safe Passage route, try to use it. There are trusted adults along these paths to help keep families safe. Visit cps.edu/safepassage for a map of Safe Passage routes in Chicago. On days when there are a lot of people protesting or lots of police or military presence, try to walk straight to and from school and avoid stopping at other places.
• Travel With Friends and Family. It’s safer to travel with friends and family members than traveling alone. Families can walk with a large group, creating a “Walking School Bus.” Families can also carpool or use a buddy system on public transportation to stay safe.
• Stay Visible. Walk on streets that are busy and have lots of lights. Don't take shortcuts through dark alleys or quiet, empty places.
• Know Where to Find Help. Find places you can go if you feel unsafe. You can go inside buildings like a library, a church, a firehouse, or a police station. Community centers and Chicago Park District fieldhouses are also good places to find trusted adults who can help. Figure out where these places are in your neighborhood in case you need to use them. If you do not feel safe walking to and from school, reach out to your school counselor or a trusted adult at the school you have a relationship with.
• Stay In Touch. Make sure your family members know your plans. Tell them where you're going and who you will be with. If you have a cell phone, keep it charged and on so your family can reach you. Families can also create a block or neighborhood phone or text tree to share information quickly.
• Stay Alert. Keep your eyes and ears open! Don't listen to music too loud in your headphones and try not to look down at your phone while you're walking. Stay focused on what's happening around you.

While it may be a difficult topic to discuss, we want to make sure our families are prepared in case of an unexpected emergency. Having a plan in place beforehand can make a difficult situation more manageable. Here are a few recommendations for families:

• Update Emergency Contact Information: Please ensure your student’s emergency contact information is up-to-date so their school can reach an emergency contact if needed. Ensure the emergency contact is 18 years of age and over. Please reach out to their school if you need assistance.
• Memorize Important Phone Numbers: You should memorize the phone numbers of your family, a trusted friend, and a lawyer.
• Create a Family Plan: If you have children or family members who rely on you, you should have a plan for childcare, school pickup, and care for dependents.
• Identify a Trusted Contact: You should designate a reliable person (family member, friend, or community leader) who knows your family plan and can act on your behalf. You should provide this person with copies of important documents (see below).
• Organize Important Documents: You should give a trusted contact a copy of all your important documents. This includes your "A" number (Alien Registration Number) if you have one, which is crucial for locating a detained individual. You can also share a copy of your passport number and visa foil, if you hold a visa.

On July 24, 2026, a federal court issued a ruling blocking some undocumented students in Illinois from accessing in-state tuition and financial aid for the 2026-27 school year. This ruling mainly impacts:

• Recent CPS alumni who are currently enrolled in a public two- or four-year college in the state of Illinois in the 2026-27 school year
• Recent CPS alumni who are currently enrolled at City Colleges of Chicago
• Any current CPS student who will be graduating in the Fall of 2026 and plans to enroll in a public two- or four-year college in the state of Illinois OR City Colleges of Chicago in the Spring of 2027.

This ruling will not impact current CPS students who are graduating in the Spring of 2027; current CPS students (and alumni) will be able to complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid beginning October 1, 2026, and will be eligible for both Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant funding and in-state tuition at all public colleges and universities in Illinois for the 2027-28 school year.

For more details, please explore these resources:

• RISE Act Update and Resources [ English | Spanish ]
• Illinois College Updates & Resources for Students Impacted by RISE Act Ruling [ English ]
• Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Student and Family FAQ [ English | Spanish ]

CPS is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming educational environments that embrace and celebrate everyone in our diverse school communities. This includes providing mental and emotional health support to students during this difficult time.

CPS schools are equipped with dedicated professionals including counselors and social workers who are able to support our students' mental health needs. Please reach out to a trusted adult at the school for support.

In addition, CPS has compiled additional resources and guidelines on supporting the mental well-being of students:

• For High School Students [ ENGLISH | SPANISH | Polish | Chinese | Urdu | Ukrainian | Arabic ]
• For Elementary School Students [ ENGLISH | SPANISH | POLISH | CHINESE | URDU | UKRAINIAN | ARABIC ]
• Materials Regarding School Avoidance [ ENGLISH | SPANISH | POLISH | CHINESE | URDU | UKRAINIAN | ARABIC ]

For the most comprehensive set of mental health resources for students and families, please visit cps.edu/mentalhealth.