Students, Parents, and Community Resources

Immigration Resources

Protecting our Students, Staff and Families

The U.S. Supreme Court established in the 1982 case Plyer v. Doe that children cannot be denied a free public education based on their immigration status or their family’s immigration status. This protects the right to education for all students.

Regardless of federal policy changes related to immigration enforcement, CPS will continue to actively protect students, staff, and their families. In accordance with the Illinois Trust Act and Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance, CPS:

DOES NOT ask for our families' immigration status
WILL NOT coordinate with federal immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
DOES NOT share student records with ICE or any other federal representatives, except in the rare case where there is a court order or consent from the parent/guardian
WILL NOT allow ICE agents or any other federal representatives access to CPS facilities unless they produce a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge

CPS has provided detailed guidance to school leaders and the appropriate school-based staff regarding interactions with ICE, and is actively providing training to support this guidance.

Top Resources for Students & Families

Downloadable Student and Family Resource Packet (October 2025) [ ENGLISH | SPANISH ]
Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Family Support Network and Hotline: 855-435-7693
ICIRR Know Your Rights Fact Sheets and Cards in multiple languages
Illinois Immigration Information Hub

Know Your Rights

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.

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.

This resource provided by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) shows actions that families can take to prepare themselves.

Legal Resources

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

Tips for Traveling To-and-From School

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.

Emergency Family Preparedness

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.