Unprecedented Roster of Elected Officials Demonstrate Commitment to Immigrant Community

Chicago, IL – Today, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) hosted its 2nd annual “One Nation, One Dream” Immigration Integration Summit.   More than 1,500 people attended the summit, joined by 50 of Illinois’s most powerful elected officials and dignitaries, including Governor Pat Quinn, US Senator Dick Durbin, US Representatives Luis Gutierrez and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, and Senate Republican Caucus Chair Senator Matt Murphy.

ICIRR unveiled its “One Nation One Dream” issue platform for 2012, which includes a continued commitment to immigration reform; a powerful pledge to work for healthcare and education for new Americans; and support for immigrant workers and entrepreneurs in their vital role in the recovering Illinois economy. ICIRR also launched “Uniting America” Initiative to encourage volunteerism and community dialogue between Illinois’s new Americans and their new neighbors.  Uniting America is a partnership with the AmeriCorps program, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, and the State of Illinois.

Governor Quinn closed the summit by announcing the members of the DREAM fund commission. The Illinois DREAM act creates a privately-funded scholarship program for high school graduates from immigrant families who wish to attend college.  “Encouraging more students in Illinois to pursue higher education is the key towards improving their lives and our economy,” Governor Quinn said. “Students who work hard and achieve deserve the chance to chase their dreams, no matter their background. Because of this support, more kids will grow up to be Illinois residents who work hard and contribute to society.”  

ICIRR also announced its 2012 goals for naturalizing new citizens and mobilizing new voters. The goals include assisting 10,000 legal immigrants to become citizens in Illinois, and mobilizing 159,885 Latino, Asian, Polish, and Middle Eastern voters to the polls.

In addition, the summit featured an announcement by Congressman Gutierrez of a new Family Unity Advisory Group, dignitaries who will work with immigration officials and immigrant communities.  The group will provide accurate and timely information about changes in immigration policies, and work to end specific deportations.  "When policies change in Washington, we need an efficient and community-based way to get the word out about what the new policy means for families," Rep. Gutierrez said.  "For example," he continued, "we have won significant changes in deportation policies that will keep families together, but they will only work if people know about them and know what to ask for and we have a way of making sure families and individuals do not fall through the cracks." The summit included a training for community leaders on how to give Know Your Rights presentations in their neighborhoods, as well as educational sessions on ICE’s ongoing review of pending deportation cases and the proposed “Family Unity Waiver” to avoid long-term separation.

Other topics covered at summit sessions included health care, protections for immigrant workers, immigrants in the Illinois economy, early childhood education through parent engagement, effective communication strategies, youth leadership, and citizen advocacy.

Additionally, ICIRR announced the transition of Lawrence Benito from deputy director to CEO as current executive director Joshua Hoyt assumes his new role as Chief Strategy Executive for the organization.  “We have an exciting year ahead of us,” said Benito.  “Our 2012 platform consists of keeping families together, building political engagement, healthcare reform for the immigrant communities and promoting volunteerism to ensure a equal future for all of Illinois families.”  

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is a statewide coalition of more than 130 organizations dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society. For more information, visit www.icirr.org.

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