WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) commends U.S. District Judge April Perry’s recent decision to temporarily block the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops in Illinois. This ruling underscores the importance of upholding constitutional rights and protecting immigrant communities from federal overreach, as numerous cities and states face unprompted invasions by the U.S. military. 

NPNA commends the court’s decision to block the National Guard as well as Chicago’s resistance to federal overreach, with city officials and residents uniting to protect their communities. Peaceful protests by community leaders, clergy, local government leaders, and more have been organized to oppose the National Guard’s deployment, and Governor Pritzker, Mayor Johnson voiced strong objections to the presence of federal troops.

Said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director, “Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson have shown true leadership, standing firm in democratic values and protecting the rights of all residents from executive overreach. Their stance is matched by the resilience of Chicago itself, a city whose history of embracing diversity and community is now reflected in its unified, peaceful response to federal overreach. And Mayor Brandon Johnson, courage to name the harm that mass enforcement presents to all communities cannot be understated, “there’s not a Chicagoan that’s by themselves right now. We will use every tool available to us to defend the humanity and dignity of every Chicagoan.” 

 For the rest of the nation, we cannot ignore the heart-wrenching human cost behind this hate-driven crisis—the images of moms pulled from their cars, of people being abducted in broad daylight by masked squads, and much more that was not recorded. It is this terrifying reality of neighbors being hunted that has mobilized Chicagoans of all walks of life to defiantly defend their communities and uphold the promise of an inclusive city for all. The National Partnership for New Americans applauds the resilience of Chicago, its leaders, and the promise of free speech without retaliation.”

Erendira Rendon, vice president of Immigrant Justice at The Resurrection Project in Chicago, said, “This ruling affirms that immigrant communities deserve protection and that executive overreach cannot undermine the rights and dignity of residents. Immigrant communities urgently need to be protected and deserve to live without fear of unprovoked federal enforcement. This decision upholds the constitutional rights of all residents. Chicago has shown the power of collective action in standing up for human dignity. At The Resurrection Project, we remain committed to supporting and protecting our immigrant communities, ensuring they know they are not alone, and we will continue to thrive through justice, solidarity, and advocacy.”

###
The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 88 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 42 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.