The Chicago Reporter

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Thousands are being deported without a chance to appear before an immigration judge.

MariaZamudio

January, 2013 A judge's decision dashes an immigrant's hope for deportation reprieve A Chicago judge denied an immigration prosecutor’s request last week for an “administrative closure” of a deportation proceeding against Sebastian Pineda, a Mexican immigrant whose case was chronicled by The Chicago Reporter in August. The decision threw a wrench into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s stuttering effort to carry out a 2011 directive by John Morton, the agency’s... > Read More	January, 2013 Sandi Jackson resigns from City Council; residents want input in replacement process Tomorrow is the last day Sandi Jackson will represent the 7th Ward in Chicago’s city council and some residents say the community should have a voice in the replacement process. Jackson abruptly announced her resignation Friday in a letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel saying she couldn’t balance her responsibilities with her family and representing the people who live in the 7th Ward. “I am... > Read More	December, 2012 Undocumented Life: One year later, an immigrant gets a Christmas wish Leticia Morua had lost hope. The mother of three was severely depressed and the threat of losing her children worried her sick. "I didn't care about anything. I just kept thinking that I didn't want to be separated from my children," she said. "I was worried about the state taking my children away." The 38-year-old had been placed under deportation proceedings in March 2010 following a traffic... > Read More
November, 2012 Man who forced immigrants into prostitution sentenced to life in prison Their nightmare dragged on for more than two years. The undocumented women from Eastern Europe were brought to the Chicago area where they were later beaten, branded and forced into prostitution. The man responsible for the scheme, Alex Campbell, was sentenced Monday to life without parole in a federal prison and to pay $124,000 in restitution. “They (the victims) have a life sentence -- all of... > Read More	November, 2012 Chicago Aldermen sign resolution to push for undocumented immigrants to receive driver's lincenses Alicia drives to the suburbs for her job. The Logan Square resident can’t afford to miss work because she has a son to support. But unlike many Illinois’ drivers the 36-year-old mother is scared driving. “I’m terrified of driving to work. I’m afraid of going to work and never coming back,” said Alicia, who is undocumented. “If the police pulls me over the first thing they ask for is insurance and... > Read More	October, 2012 Undocumented Life: Activist Dolores Huerta pushes for renewed focus on Violence Against Women Act The abuse started only months after Irma Duran married him. He became controlling. Dictating her every move, including not letting her sleep. And the abuse only got worse. “He threatened me when I asked him for a divorce,” Duran said. “He said, ‘I’m going to cut each one of your eyes out with a knife.’” Her story is one in a sea of domestic abuse victims. These women are undocumented... > Read More
September, 2012 Undocumented Life: Report claims detention centers are unfairly punishing immigrants Many of the country’s immigration detention centers use solitary confinement improperly to punish detainees, according to a report from immigration activist and doctors. The report alleges that undocumented immigrants housed in detention centers, including McHenry County Jail and Tri-County, are constantly being punished with a 23-hour lockdown also known as "solitary confinement." These... > Read More	September, 2012 UIC study: Car washes in Chicago exploit workers, violate wage and safety laws On a bad day Oscar Olivares earns $5 a day in tips working as a car washer, a good day can get him $55, but most of the time the pay is somewhere in between and that's his only income for that day. The 45-year-old Salvadorian immigrant has been working in this industry for eight years and as far as he’s concerned, all of the car washers in the city pay the same. "There were days that I didn't... > Read More	September, 2012 Behind the story: Child homicide report leads to sleepless nights, heartbreaking interview I never imagined I would pressure a grieving family member into giving me an interview. But I was desperate. My deadline was looming and there was still an important piece missing from my story: An interview with the aunt of a young boy who was beaten to death. His aunt’s name is Katrina and she had agreed to meet me at the cemetery where little Christopher was buried. Then she stood me up. I... > Read More