Immigrant Leaders to Emanuel: This is a Violation of Chicago Sanctuary City Status Press Conference TODAY
Friday, February 17, 11:00am
ICIRR office: 55 E. Jackson, suite 2075, Chicago
Speakers: Rose’s family, other families affected by CPD cooperation with ICE, Alie Kabba (President of United African Organization)
At the time of this release, a 54 year-old asylum seeker and mother of a U.S. Citizen, Rose T., is being held at the Chicago Police Department station at 18th and State Street – waiting in a jail cell for immigration agents to come and deport her. She was pulled over for allegedly not using her turn signal. CPD contacted ICE to ask that they arrest Rose, in contradiction to the 2006 Chicago City Ordinance which prohibits the cooperation of city agencies with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This ordinance, and the accompanying executive order by then Mayor Richard Daley, were both lauded and re-affirmed by Mayor Emanuel.
Statement of ICIRR Board President and UAO Executive Director Alie Kabba:
Rose’s detention is a stain on Chicago’s record as a global city that welcomes immigrants. We call on Mayor Emanuel to release Rose immediately, apologize to her family, and let it be known that no immigrant should ever have reason to fear our Chicago police force.
Rose is a 54 year-old mother who came to the United States from Cameroon in 2001, seeking asylum. She entered this country legally and went through the proper channels to apply for asylum. She was initially denied asylum, while her son was granted asylum. She then hired a lawyer in hopes of finding a way to stay in this country to raise her son and be with her family. The lawyer took advantage of her and due to his mistake, she missed her subsequent court date – and an order of deportation was issued for her. Rose has never knowingly broken a law in her life, but she spent last night in a Chicago jail cell waiting for ICE officials to come and take her away from her son and extended family. All because a Chicago police officer decided to take immigration law into his own hands. Rose was pulled over for a traffic violation, and rather than issuing a citation, the arresting officer noticed she was wanted by ICE and proceeded to call ICE to pick her up.
The Chicago Police Department has violated the 2006 Chicago “Sanctuary” Ordinance, instilled fear in the immigrant community, and wasted precious taxpayer dollars – all in the name of separating families. Sadly, Rose’s case does not appear to be an isolated incident.
Through ICIRR's Deportations hotline (1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY), ICIRR recently learned of the case of Oscar and Cesar Pelaez, two brothers aged 18 and 19. Like Rose, Oscar was arrested by Chicago Police, not ICE. In contravention of the 2006 ordinance, Oscar was asked whether he was “illegal” and he replied truthfully that he was. Chicago Police issued him a ticket, but the next day ICE agents appeared at his home and proceeded to arrest both Oscar and his brother. Oscar and Cesar are now at the Detention Center in Kenosha, awaiting deportation, unable to afford counsel or bond. Cesar’s first child, a U.S. citizen, is due to be born any day now.
In order for Chicago to remain a global city, new Americans like me must be able to walk down the street without fearing that our friends and family will be targeted for deportation. When local police cooperate with ICE, it sends a chill through our communities. How can we live in a city where we must fear those who are tasked to protect and serve?
