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.
• 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.

List of Non-profit Agencies Offering Immigration Assistance [ English ]

The Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) has created this 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 reports of more federal agents heading to 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. 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.

CPS has created resources for students from mixed-status families and for undocumented students who are completing federal and state financial aid applications for post-secondary education.

Letter to Guardians and Students Regarding Financial Aid [ English |  Spanish |  Polish | Chinese | Arabic | Urdu | Filipino ]

2025-2026 Financial Aid Process Key Questions [ English |  Spanish |  Polish | Chinese | Arabic | Urdu | Filipino ]

Post-Election Support for Immigrant Youth and Families in Illinois [ English ]

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.

CPS offers all high school students access to free virtual counseling sessions at home or at school. Families can learn more about this program through this informational flyer or by visiting getstarted.hazel.co/district/cps.

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.