By: Jennifer Flores
As ICE slowly makes a departure towards North Carolina, the Chicago Hispanic communities remain vigilant. The Pilsen community, now home to the Dominican Chicago Campus at 1805 S Paulina St Chicago, IL 60608, has been proactive in their efforts to support and alert people of ICE presence in the area.
Elizabeth Sanchez, a Dominican graduate student who works at the Chicago Campus, said ICE has been in the area, and the community had responded.
“About two weeks ago actually, there’s Ashland and 18th , on the next road ahead, they were passing by there. And there was a lot of whistling and honking and all of that. So yeah, it’s bad,” she said.
Sanchez added that people have whistles to alert the community of ICE activity, and that overall, the Pilsen community is supportive.
A walk down 18th Street is a testament to the community’s voice and preemptive endeavors. Nearly every business establishment has flyers prohibiting entry to ICE agents. Murals and windows, are also lined with stickers and flyers with messages like “ABOLISH ICE,” “F**** ICE,” and “Ch***a La Migra”
Students have now become familiar with how Dominican prepared for ICE activity in the River Forest campus. Campus Safety Director Sasha Santiago had previously mentioned that there is a Front Door Policy in place that prevents any federal agent from walking on campus without business affairs or invalid warrants.
Because the Chicago Campus shares the same security systems, they also have the same procedures and policies, according to Barrington Price, CEO of the Chicago Campus.
“We share the same front door policy,” he said. “So, even though we have multiple campuses, we’re one university with the same policy, same commitment, same sanctuary campus status. We’re fortunate with the city of Chicago, right? It’s a sanctuary city. So, we’re very fortunate that our mayor has taken some steps.”
Price adds that students are informed about ICE activity that would be detrimental to them. He shares that because of the overwhelming amount of activity throughout the entire city; not every single sighting is reported.
“There is ICE activity, as you know, all day, everyday” he says. “I mean, however, Dominican keeps an eye on ICE activity that could affect students. The Chicago Campus has also joined text-chains within the Pilsen, Little Village, and Back of the Yards communities that help people share about ICE presence in the surrounding areas.
The Chicago Campus also works closely with the River Forest campus, to provide extra resources and ensure the safety of students. The Cultural Center of Liberation (CCL) in the River Forest campus continues to be a resource that both campuses have access to. Additionally, Price highlights community-based organizations in the city that everyone has access to.
The Chicago Campus is parented with The Resurrection Project (TRP) located just across the Chicago Campus Zocalo on Paulina Street. The organization assists individuals with Know Your Rights campaigns, legal clinics, and identifying various types of documentation. Any individual can request to volunteer for any of the services mentioned above, as well as make donations to fund the project. All services are open to both River Forest and Chicago Campus students and extend to any family members impacted.
Price emphasized the importance of other organizations in the community.
“I think what people are less aware of, are the community leaders that are fighting this battle every day,” Price said. “And doing things to organize everyday around that.”
Instituto del Progreso Latino has similar services to TRP but located down Wester & 26th Street. Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership || Chicago Faith-Based Non-Profit (CSPL) is a Pilsen-based religious group that also offers assistance and has the ICIRR’s Family Support Network hotline to report any ICE activity. Lastly, the Chicago Campus also collaborated with the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Bar Association Directory and held workshops to help with legal services.
