Chicago Votes to Welcome Refugees, Challenges Governor's Authority
Chicago, IL — Within 48 hours of Governor Rauner grandstanding on refugees in the state, a petition started by the #Not1More campaign had received over 5,000 signatures from city residents urging the Mayor to distinguish the city from the Governor’s fearmongering and reaffirm his September letter welcoming refugees.
Answering that demand, the city council took up a resolution today sponsored by Ald. Burke and co-sponsored by Ald. Rosa (see language attached), “reaffirm the City of Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city, and its commitment to remain a place of sanctuary and refuge for refugees from all around the world.” The resolution goes on to urge city agencies to collaborate to “provide shelter and sustenance for refugee families.”
In response, Irene Romulo of Organized Communities Against Deportations said, “Times of crisis require all of us to define our position. The Governor’s fearmongering doesn’t represent us as a city and the city council’s resolution was a necessary rebuttal of his hate. We need to keep working together to make Chicago the most welcoming city in the world. That work is far from over.”Hatem Abudayyeh of the Arab American Action Network added, “We’re heartened to see Chicago’s city council stand up to the culture of hate that’s shown itself in recent days. Our city is better when we stand together in welcome of those in need of help. We call again on Governor Rauner to stop the hatemongering and continue to open the door of our state to Syrian refugees”
The groups are movingforward with an already planned march this Saturday from the Pilsen neighborhood to Immigration authorities’ headquarters as part of a national week of action demanding DHS and ICE address inhumane deportation practices and stop the removals that have continued since the President’s executive action exactly a year ago this week.