For Immediate Release DHS Press Office Contact: 202-282-8010 CHICAGO – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, joined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez, traveled to Chicago for a series of engagements with Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senator Dick Durbin, and other elected officials to discuss implementation efforts related to executive actions on immigration and the important collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local governments on citizenship awareness, education, and outreach.
During the meetings, Secretary Johnson underscored the Department’s commitment to working with local communities to ensure that we effectively and sensibly enforce our Nation’s immigration laws. Secretary Johnson highlighted the importance of the “Executive Action on Immigration: Know the Facts” awareness campaign, a national and international outreach effort detailing the eligibility requirements for requesting deferred action under the President’s announcement. The campaign, aimed at the Mexican and Central American public, explains how “Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents” (DAPA) will be implemented and who is eligible in an effort to dispel potential misinformation.
Secretary Johnson also stressed the need for Congress to pass an appropriations bill for the Department as soon as possible, unburdened by any restrictions on our ability to pursue executive actions to fix our broken immigration system.
While in Chicago, Secretary Johnson also participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights to discuss implementation efforts and ongoing collaboration with DHS in the Chicago community. Immigration and Customs EnforcementDeferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA),Immigration,
