By Laura DeKoven Waxman
October 1, 2012

The Chicago City Council on September 12 approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Welcoming City Ordinance, which is intended to make Chicago the most immigrant-friendly city in the country. Emanuel proposed the ordinance July 10 to provide basic protections to undocumented Chicagoans who have not been convicted of a serious crime and are not wanted on a criminal warrant. The city worked with immigrant rights advocates in the development of the ordinance.

“This Welcoming City ordinance will make Chicago a national leader in welcoming those who play by the rules, contribute to our economy and help make Chicago the incredible city that was envisioned by its first immigrant settlers,” Emanuel commented after the city council’s action. “This ordinance will prevent law-abiding Chicagoans from being unfairly detained and deported, and will ensure that Chicago is a welcoming, multicultural global city where people have access to services they need to contribute to our city.”

The Welcoming City Ordinance builds on an existing ordinance and longtime city policy that prohibits agencies from inquiring about the immigration status of people seeking city services, and provides that the Chicago Police Department will not question crime victims, witnesses and other law-abiding residents about their legal status. It expands that ordinance to ensure that undocumented Chicagoans will only be detained if they have an outstanding criminal warrant; have been convicted of a felony; are a defendant in a criminal case where a judgment has not been entered and a felony charge is pending; have been identified as a known gang member; or if they are otherwise a clear threat to public safety or national security. It further provides that no individual will be detained solely on the basis of an alleged civil immigration violation.

The Police Department plans to institute training in conjunction with immigrant advocacy groups to assist in building trust within immigrant communities and develop public marketing materials that outline the services that law abiding immigrants can safely access in Chicago. The Department will continue to cooperate with federal authorities in investigating and apprehending violent criminals who may be undocumented immigrants.