Dear Colleagues,
Since early September, we have followed the local reporting out of Chicago about the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Midway Blitz.
When this operation launched, DHS used the tragic hit-and-run deaths of two young women here in Urbana as part of its narrative that their mass deportation agenda is a fight for safer communities.
Their own actions have belied this narrative over and over again. DHS officers in the Chicago area are making communities less safe. They have used undue force, tear gassed children, assaulted elders, used racial slurs, racially profiled and detained US citizens, pointed loaded guns at peaceful protestors, intentionally caused car crashes, and are responsible for shockingly inhumane conditions in detention facilities. In the first days of the operation in Chicago, they shot and killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was unarmed, had no criminal record, and whose only offense was trying to drive away. They no longer target specific folks with a criminal record or order of removal; they just show up at Home Depot and Walmart parking lots to pick up anyone they can find.
Specialized faculty at the University of Illinois teach a great share of undergraduate courses, and many of our students have undocumented family members in Chicagoland. The fear in the Chicago area is real; many immigrants hardly step outside except to go to work and school. Our students fear for their family members. Some of our students have family members who have already been detained. As instructors, we see our students struggle with this trauma.
We call on our fellow faculty members and instructional staff: if one of your students confides in you that they are affected by the immigration raids in Chicago, show them grace. It is a terrifying time. Depending on the nature of your course, it may be appropriate to offer extensions, excuse absences, and/or provide extra academic support.
A resource to share: Affected students may contact Undocumented Student Support Services. The folks at this office are highly capable and compassionate. They assist students from mixed-status families, whether the students themselves are undocumented or not.
To stay informed, we recommend the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and Block Club Chicago. (If you read press releases from the Department of Homeland Security, we would caution you to read with a critical eye, as DHS’s statements have frequently contradicted video evidence and can no longer be considered reliable.)
The story of Chicago’s immigration raids is also a story of community organizing and mutual aid. Many organizations and individuals work in various ways to keep immigrants safe and hold federal agents accountable for misconduct.
NTFC is raising money for one such group, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). From now through November 15, all donations made at our website will go to ICIRR. NTFC will match up to $1000 of donations.
In solidarity,
Theresa Dobbs (she/her)
NTFC President
