Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Communities
The Chicago Police Department is deeply committed to respecting the rights, dignity, and unique experiences of immigrants, migrants, and refugees. We recognize the invaluable contributions these communities make to the fabric of our city and are dedicated to ensuring they feel safe, supported, and empowered. Regardless of immigration status, every person in Chicago deserves fair and impartial policing. Through culturally informed practices, community engagement, and the efforts of our Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Liaison Officers, we strive to build trust, break down barriers, and provide services rooted in compassion and mutual respect.
Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Liaisons
The Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Liaison team is committed to strengthening trust and communication between the Chicago Police Department and immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities. Our Liaisons work to ensure that individuals from all backgrounds, especially those from marginalized communities, have access to fair, compassionate, and effective police services. We strive to deliver these services with cultural understanding, empathy, and respect for the diverse communities we serve.
Meet our Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Liaisons
- Officer Jocelyn de la Torre
- Officer Adriana Torres
- Community Coordinator Diana Ponce
Contact the Team
To contact our Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Liaison team you can reach out to us:
By email at IMRLiaisons@ChicagoPolice.org
or call us at 312-745-5012 during regular business hours, Monday thru Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:00am – 4:00pm
Welcoming City Ordinance
In 2012, Chicago passed the Welcoming City Ordinance, a landmark piece of legislation
aimed at making the City more inclusive for immigrants, refugees, and people of all
backgrounds.
Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance ensures that all residents—regardless of immigration status—can access city services and interact with law enforcement without fear.
Updated in early 2021, the ordinance prohibits city agencies, including the Chicago Police Department, from:
- Detaining, arresting, or continuing to hold anyone solely based on their immigration status or civil immigration warrants
- Transferring individuals to ICE custody for civil immigration enforcement
- Assisting federal immigration authorities in any civil enforcement operations, such as providing traffic perimeters, on-site support, or sharing detention information
- Including immigration-related questions in city agency forms or maintaining records of a person’s status; it also removes “citizen” terminology in official code, replacing it with inclusive language such as “person” or “resident”
Additional protections include a requirement for the CPD to certify U‑Visa applications (for undocumented crime victims collaborating with police) within 90 days
Together, these measures cement Chicago’s stance as a sanctuary city, prioritizing public safety and trust by ensuring immigrants, migrants, and refugees can report crimes and engage with police without fear of deportation.
CPD Policy on Incidents Involving Citizenship Status
Special Order S06-14-03:
Responding to Incidents Involving Citizenship Status
This directive outlines the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) strict limitations on involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement. Consistent with the Welcoming City Ordinance, CPD officers:
- Will not detain, arrest, or assist ICE based on civil immigration violations, detainers, or administrative warrants.
- Will not share contact or immigration status information with immigration agencies unless legally required or authorized by the individual.
- Will not allow ICE access to individuals in CPD custody or use of CPD facilities for immigration enforcement.
- Will treat all residents equally, regardless of immigration status, and accept foreign government-issued IDs as valid proof of identity.
Exceptions are made only when there is a public safety concern or a criminal warrant. The policy also includes oversight procedures and requires documentation of any immigration-related requests through internal reporting and quarterly summaries.
This directive affirms CPD’s commitment to building trust with immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities by ensuring that local law enforcement is not used as a tool for federal immigration enforcement.
Other Important Policies
General Order G02-04:
Prohibition Regarding Racial Profiling and Other Bias-Based Policing
General Order G04-06:
Hate Crimes and Related Incidents Motivated by Bias or Hate
Other Important Information
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) does NOT work with, collaborate with, or enforce immigration laws for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Your safety and trust are our priority. To protect all residents and encourage everyone to report crimes or seek help without fear, Chicago has strong Welcoming City Ordinance protections. Here’s what you need to know:
- CPD officers are prohibited from asking about your immigration status during routine interactions, traffic stops, or when you report a crime.
- CPD does not detain individuals based solely on immigration status or administrative warrants from ICE.
- CPD does not participate in ICE raids, investigations, or arrests related to civil immigration violations.
- CPD does not share non-public information (like home/work addresses) with ICE for immigration enforcement purposes.
Key Protections Under Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance
The law strictly prohibits CPD from:
- Enforcing ICE detainers (request to hold someone beyond their release date) unless accompanied by a valid criminal warrant issued by a judge.
- Allowing ICE access to people in CPD custody or to CPD facilities for immigration enforcement
- Using city funds, facilities, or personnel to assist in federal immigration enforcement operations
- Inquiring about, recording, or disclosing immigration status unless required by law or directly related to a criminal investigation.
- Cooperating with ICE based solely on non-criminal immigration warrants
What This Means for YOU:
- YOU can report crimes, be a witness, and seek help from police without fear of CPD turning you over to ICE for immigration matters.
- YOU have the right to remain silent about your place of birth or citizenship if questioned by police.
CPD’s role is Public Safety – not immigration enforcement.
The presence of CPD is intended to safeguard individuals’ First Amendment rights while ensuring public safety and preventing unlawful behavior.
Chicago Police Department (CPD) tactical uniforms may visually resemble those of other law enforcement agencies, including ICE. Uniform design does NOT imply partnership. This similarity is coincidental and should NOT be interpreted as collaboration or shared operations. CPD does not participate in immigration enforcement.
Important Exceptions
The ordinance allows CPD to communicate with ICE only in limited cases involving:
- Individuals with prior felony convictions listed in the ordinance
- Active criminal warrants for serious offenses (e.g., homicide, sexual assault).
- Individuals under investigation for felony-level activity.
- Individuals on the terrorist watch list.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Do you need a state department-issued identification to report a crime?
No
Can I report a hate crime related to my immigration status?
Yes, in Chicago a municipal code was passed where no one should be discriminated against their immigration status
I was a victim of a violent crime?
You may qualify for a u-visa or t-visa. Contact us for questions and to connect you to resources