Illinois Coalition Launches Campaign Against ICE Agenda

Immigrant and refugee rights group calls for policy changes to protect communities of color

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is launching a statewide campaign against the Trump administration's policies on immigration enforcement, including actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. The coalition is demanding policy changes to protect immigrant communities, particularly communities of color, from federal immigration actions.

Why it matters

The campaign comes in response to continued ICE enforcement activities in Illinois and across the country that have instilled fear and disrupted immigrant communities. The coalition is seeking to mobilize support for policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, as well as measures to protect the personal data of immigrants from being shared with federal agencies.

The details

The campaign was announced at the ICIRR's 2026 Summit, which drew over 400 attendees from neighborhood and advocacy groups. Speakers shared stories of ICE presence in their communities and called on elected officials to support policies that 'Fund immigrant services,' 'Protect Illinoisans' data from ICE and other federal agencies,' and 'Strengthen the Illinois TRUST Act,' which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration actions.

  • The ICIRR 2026 Summit took place on February 14, 2026.

The players

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)

A statewide coalition of immigrant and refugee advocacy organizations in Illinois.

Lawrence Benito

Executive director of the ICIRR.

Sugeira Tellez

An attendee at the ICIRR summit and Chicago-area resident.

Andrew De Las Alas

Coordinator of the suburban youth program at the HANA Center.

Dagmara Avelar

Democratic state representative for Illinois District 85.

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What they’re saying

“The power is in our hands that we are the ones that have to step up, get up and defend your rights.”

— Sugeira Tellez (abc7chicago.com)

“Over the past year, we've seen how the Trump administration attacks our communities on a daily basis, whether in Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina or in cities and towns across the country.”

— Lawrence Benito, Executive director, ICIRR (abc7chicago.com)

“HANA students share videos of ice goose stepping down the same streets they take to school. Their parents carry passports so they can prove their citizenship. And nearly every week, I hear about a neighbor or a student who has been taken or forced to self deport.”

— Andrew De Las Alas, Suburban youth program coordinator, HANA Center (abc7chicago.com)

“We know that Black and brown communities will be hit first and hardest. That's not an accident. That's the design. But here's what we know, Illinois is not Washington.”

— Dagmara Avelar, Democratic state representative, Illinois District 85 (abc7chicago.com)

What’s next

Organizers say the campaign will continue to push for policy changes at the state level to limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, as well as measures to protect the personal data of immigrants.

The takeaway

This campaign by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights underscores the ongoing efforts by immigrant advocates to push back against the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement agenda, which has disproportionately targeted communities of color across the country.