Chicago SunTimes Letter to the Editors - Philanthropists Can Give More to Protect Immigrants

Sept. 26, 2026 - Published in Chicago SunTimes Letters to the Editors

It’s been a year since Operation Midway Blitz began, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are still present in Chicago. That said, immigration enforcement tactics have changed. Public neighborhood raids have been replaced by quick, targeted maneuvers.

So far this year, ICE deported more than 350,000 people — many who were abducted while working or taking their children to school. Multiple reports indicate that men, women and children detained in ICE facilities face inhumane conditions and due process violations. And, most horrifyingly, an average of one person a week dies in ICE custody.

The horrors caused by the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies have led many to ask what we can do to support communities most affected. As a refugee policy scholar and a Wieboldt Foundation board member, I see the urgency of this moment and an opportunity for philanthropy to meet it.

Funders should consider unrestricted grants to organizations with track records of effectively building trust and serving directly impacted communities, including the National Immigrant Justice Center, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, RefugeeOne and World Relief. Philanthropy is already an important partner to these agencies. But the scale of need has grown. The proliferation of federal anti-immigration policies is not letting up. So more funding is needed now.

Philanthropy also has a unique role to play in bolstering immigration defense by supporting community organizing, which is the most effective strategy for community self-determination. When neighbors come together to share concerns and envision solutions to the challenges they face, they are building political power — this is democracy in action. Front-line groups like the Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership and Organized Communities Against Defense have been in the streets organizing people across the city. For those who are unsure about how best to support targeted communities, these organizations offer an opportunity for us to listen and learn.

Philanthropy has a crucial role in immigration defense. Partnership with immigrant communities will demonstrate our commitment to a democracy in which everyone is valued. The impact of our financial support for services and grassroots community organizing will be immediate and lasting.

Jessica Darrow, associate instructional professor, University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and board member, Wieboldt Foundation