Chicago – October 16, 2018 – Chicago will host an “Immigrant Family Unity” forum on October 18, part of a five-city effort to build community-led strategies to stop the horrific practices of family separation and attacks on low-income families. Following the separation of thousands of migrant families under a “Zero Tolerance” policy this summer, a record 12,800 children are being held alone in U.S. government custody. With the pending cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs in 2019, some 276,000 US-born children could be separated from a TPS beneficiary parent.

Concerned Chicago-area residents are invited to understand the historical and policy precedents of forced migration and family separation and build community-led strategies to ensure that migrant families’ human rights to protection and unity are respected at the border, in Chicago, and across the Americas.

Topics of discussion will include the Trump Administration’s recent “Zero Tolerance” policies, proposed changes to “Public Charge” rules, and increasingly restrictive immigration and refugee resettlement policies. Additional forums are being convened in Washington, DC, New York City, Miami and San Francisco.

WHAT: “Immigrant Family Unity” Forum convened by Alianza Americas and Hispanic Federation, with participation from Chicago-based Centro Romero, Erickson Institute, Latino Policy Forum and Latinos Progresando.

WHEN & WHERE: Loyola University’s Phillip H. Corby Law Center (25 E. Pearson, Chicago) from 8:30-11:30am. Program begins at 9am, with issue-specific presentations starting at 9:30am and facilitated group dialogue at 10:30am.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Bilingual (Spanish/English) experts are available to speak about family separation, proposed changes to “public charge” policies, immigration and refugee resettlement policies. Leaders of Chicago-based community organizations and a TPS holder whose family will be affected by recent policy changes will also be available for comment.

Alianza Americas is a network of 50 immigrant-led organizations representing more than 100,000 families across the United States. It is the only US-based organization rooted in Latino and Caribbean immigrant communities that works transnationally to create an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable way of life. Learn more at alianzaamericas.org.