Chicago Welcomes Immigrants—Office of New Americans and Illinois Dream Act

Last month, Chicago, under the leadership of Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, announced the creation of the Office of New Americans.

The press release from the Mayor's office declared that the ultimate goal of the new office is to "make Chicago the world’s most immigrant-friendly city". Hear! Hear!

I love, love Chicago. It is a beautiful, vibrant city and this official love from the city makes me want to pack my bags and book a flight straight to O'Hare airport.

Working with community organizations, educational institutions and the private sector, the Office of New Americans will undertake several initiatives including:

1. Helping immigrants learn English by expanding resources available to them.
2. Promoting citizenship within the local immigrant communities.
3. Increased access to business development and entrepreneurship opportunities.
   
4. Ensuring access to information on education, health, public safety by developing a central language policy.
5. Supporting the Illinois Dream Act to help immigrant children access the funds they need to go to college.

Earlier this month, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Governor Pat Quinn had signed the Illinois Dream Act. The act establishes a private fund to make scholarships available to children of undocumented immigrants. These children have no other way of accessing college because they cannot get loans or grants from the federal government. The Illinois Dream Act supports the goals of those "willing and able to get a college education, want to work hard and wish to fully integrate into society".

Let's hope that other cities will follow Chicago's lead in making immigrants feel welcome and supporting their efforts to be part and parcel of our larger communities.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) has more information on the Illinois Dream Act. Click here to access their website.