documentation is considered a civil violation, not a criminal offense.

And recently we spoke with 2 individuals whose family members have been detained and they share that their loved ones do not have a criminal record now, these families are now facing legal the legal battle to fight deportation.

Here with more on the local impact, our don't say the stump board, president of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Executive director of Monroe Model Family Resource Center.

Now on immigration attorney and on zoom, we have 20th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez whose ward includes Pilsen.

Thank you all for joining us.

I want to start with you as mentioned being undocumented is in a criminal offense, but a civil one.

Why is it possible for ICE agents to make these arrests?

>> The reality is that immigration law.

Though the warning of immigration law says that anyone could be detained.

Unfortunately, previous administrations wouldn't enforce that to the full extent.

But Trump will be and it's.

enforcing this law to the full extent.

So anyone who doesn't have a legal side is in the United States is a target for this policies.

What would you say that creates that creates more backlog in immigration court.

It creates more fear, more family separation and obviously more work for who are in the front of all of this, right?

Helping our clients advising them what to do, but obviously representing immigration court just to give you some statistics right now, there's about 3.5 million cases in backlog in the immigration court system.

So think about adding morning to that system, it's going to be out.

We don't have the resources to be able to manage all of You know, where these people stay.

The people who are detained.

So there's a legal process at people who like the teens have a right to fighting immigration court.

This doesn't mean that because you're the teen, you're going to be deported right away.

That's not the case.

People who don't have a the petition order or who haven't been deported before can still fighting operational court request and then be returned to their family members and then fight in immigration court.

But obviously still the in their communities.

>> And don't system immigration raids took place today.

Can you share with us?

What was that like today?

Yeah, that's correct.

Our organization receive some information from community members since one of the things that we're trying to do, you know, se community-based organization that empowers immigrant families along with a member being member organization of ICE are is allowing our community to attend.

Know your rights workshops.

In addition to that, obviously we're trying to build a rapid response team and what that entails is community members coming forth with information.

We know that social media, you know, things can get a little crazy and people can share.

Information that's not factual.

And so we received that this morning.

I actually was the one another team member that went to check it out.

And in fact, we did confirm that ice was in North Chicago, which is in Lake County and they did pick up a community member there where aware also that they were making traffic stops.

They did a stop.

One community member.

And and unfortunately, I don't know what happened if they did or not.

But again, just knowing that they were there, we alerted our community members.

We put it up on social media and people are fearful and for that reason, know your rights workshops are super important.

I mean, as you saw, people don't even want to come out of their homes.

I've me when I was out in the street yesterday, I mean, they're not sending their kids to school.

Now, I do.

You just mentioned you've been Oregon organizing, know your rights workshops and the Trump's administration border czar Tom Homan recently weighed in on them.

Let's take a listen to what he said.

>> Thanks us.

He was making very difficult.

To arrest the criminals.

France in Chicago very well educated.

They've been educated.

How that I would defy eyes.

How how the how the high for mice and I've seen many paying for 3 men who shares how you escape ice from arresting or here's what you need to do.

They called know your rights icon, how escape arrest.

>> Aldermen virus, which Lopez, what is your response to what we just heard from a home in?

>> We're looking kid and I'm thankful for their NEC shows neighbors that are still being during times of day in forming.

the rights of all residents, independent immigration status.

My thing is that I'm proud to be Chicago in a century.

See that respects human rights, human rights.

The concern right now, of course, is that that is not enough.

We have someone in the White House that he's threatening to bypass process.

larking why the act, for instance, to expedite deportations, learn recently that have talked about even sending migrants to one title.

I mean, what we've seen here is the criminalization of our immigrant community in despite or even to renatta being lower than the average population we are seeing father's mean taking away from their family.

Mothers.

I just we missing little village.

they shun of a father again had years of DUI back up 12 years ago.

We're not no criminal record and actually was ranked.

We knew his work permit.

I think what we're seeing here is unconstitutional.

I'm glad Attorney general is fighting.

I'm glad rise or anything the fighting in court.

But it's not enough.

We've got to do it on the ground on informing the rest but also mobilizing to protect our neighbors about the response teams being know president, but also the rallies and the mobilization of people to denounce atrocities of the persecution of the immigrant community.

>> Alderman Ru also seeing your war that people are rather they rather just stay home than going out.

Are you seeing that same sentiment in your neighborhood?

>> We're standing our inner enrollment in order and those 4 schools that have decreased for less than to attending schools.

In some cases we're seeing also in medical appointments.

Crews also significantly less than not all those appointments free clinics here.

We also that in church then those in that, Alex, we know business has the has a chamber of sense of what we're fighting not only of seeing what they're given.

We've got to be propped.

It took We're going to be a little village.

We're going to talk about know your rights for businesses for the were placed in the schools.

We legislators to more protections.

Denver's the ready, throwing the federal government attempting to schools.

We've got to do more and we ready to coordinate with other cities, other municipalities.

What we've seen is inhumane unconstitutional.

It is what the Gators that is not what presidents do.

Persecuting migrants making these and industrial prison complex to explode my dress that to benefit billionaires.

This is not the America that we want kids visit Russia.

He's I was become them.

>> And low to after, you know, want to ask after being detained by an agent.

What is the first thing an individual should do?

The first thing they need to do is they need to understand their location.

They need to know whether being detained.

>> They're going to be given a number that represents their Case number.

And then to be able to memorize a phone number of a family member, someone they trust, someone that can call and provide that information to this individual and that individual should know which immigration attorney to call so that they can start the process of representing them in immigration court.

>> And don't sit in these ice arrests.

We've also seen former reality star doctor Phil following agents as they make these arrest.

You know, what was your reaction to seeing this being broadcasted?

It was really atrocious.

As I said before.

And Mary communities being used as a form entertainment.

And this is really hurtful, you know, because you're seeing as the alderman said, we're seeing families being torn apart.

And you wear, you know, being broadcasted nationwide for this administration supporters, right?

Because this is the platform that he ran on mass deportations, anti immigrant rhetoric and the matter of the fact that this has ripple effects has been it has been said here, these families are human beings.

There are violations of human rights here and again.

This is being used as a form of entertainment because that's what the president And that's with our to feel is visions forms of entertainment.

And you know, very quickly, there's a lot of fear circulating.

What advice can you give those who are being targeted in those family members or people who've been living here for decades in Chicago.

>> My advice is if you are stopped by a police officer, you're you don't have the you don't have to say what you legal status you can remain silent if an immigration officer stops a door in the street, red traffic situation, you also have the right to cite anything serving.

Officer says we're going to put you.

I'm not gonna sign anything.

I have the right to speak to someone.

And so again, calling happy with that moment.

Yes, it can still get a new, but that doesn't mean you're going to get deported.

But that also means that you still have a fighting chance in this country still.

And that's what we need to remind community do not give up, do not sign anything.

Speak to a lawyer.