Mayor Brandon Johnson Launches Protecting Chicago Website

CHICAGO - Today Mayor Brandon Johnson launched the new "Protecting Chicago" website which is designed to provide residents streamlined information centralized resources included in the Mayor's Protecting Chicago Initiative. The new websiteis the latest City-led effort to ensure Chicagoans are well-versed in their rights and provided resources as federal immigration enforcement ramps up.

"Chicago is developing a national model for cities resisting unconstitutional overreach by the federal government," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "The Protecting Chicago website will serve as a one-stop shop for information and resources that ensure every Chicagoan knows their rights. Our continued efforts to protect Chicago from unlawful federal actions are essential to preserving public safety, due process rights, and positive civic engagement."

The Protecting Chicago website is available at chicago.gov/protect.

The website centralizes community resources prepared by the Office of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights (IMRR) and Mayor's Office of Homelessness (MOH), in addition to information intended to assist those planning peaceful demonstrations in the City.

Know Your Rights information is attached in Mandarin, French, Spanish, English, Haitian Creole, and Ukrainian.

"The Protecting Chicago Initiativereaffirms the Mayor's commitment to offering compassionate and meaningful support to every person experiencing homelessness, no matter where they are in our city," said Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto. "It also builds upon the Mayor's Office of Homelessness' public-community readiness approach to ensure people experiencing homelessness, including frontline workers and volunteers who support them, are aware of their rights and the resources available to protect their safety."

Today's announcement builds on the Mayor's expanded Know Your Rights campaignand IMRR's package of digital resourcesrelated to its Family Preparedness Campaign. These resources are designed to provide immigrant, refugee, and mixed-status families with tools and guidance in case of family separation due to federal immigration enforcement.

"The Protecting Chicago website is another step forward towards ensuring that all Chicagoans, regardless of their immigration status, know and understand their rights," said Deputy Mayor for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponce de Leon. "Our aim is to make sure that every Chicagoan has the knowledge they need to be prepared and make informed decisions for themselves and their families."

This announcement follows escalated operationsby U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within Chicago.

Protecting Chicagoaims to provide accessible information and resources that allow every resident, regardless of background, immigration status, or neighborhood, to stay informed on their rights. Today's announcement reaffirms the City's commitment to promote the well-being of our communities and to safeguard the rights of all Chicagoans in response to threats arising from federal actions.

In addition to resources prepared by the City, the website compiles relevant resources developed by community groups and local partners.

The website also includes background information on Mayor Johnson's Protecting Chicago executive order.

The Protecting Chicago executive order established a cross-departmental effort to protect the constitutional rights of Chicagoans amidst militarized immigration enforcement and possible National Guard deployment by the federal government into Chicago.

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