It has been a busy year for Pilgrim’s Immigration Group! Last February and March, the Immigration Group and the church as a whole helped the young asylum seekers we had been housing transition into their own apartment. We helped them move, provided furniture and purchased a wide range of household goods for them. We also gave them a significant sum to help them with the financial part of their transition. The transition went well and both have been doing reasonably well, despite current political circumstances.

In February, the federal government cut benefits to newly arrived refugee families, despite a prior commitment to provide them with funds and services for four to six months after their arrival in the U.S. This left a number of families in extreme difficulty. In response and in partnership with Exodus World Service, with whom we have worked over the years, the Immigration Group purchased and delivered household necessities to seven refugee families in Ravenswood. Over the winter and until it closed in early October, Pilgrim was also well represented at the Migrant Ministry at Centro de St. Edmundo, the service center for migrants formerly housed in St. Edmund’s old school. This Ministry has now moved to St. Bernadine’s in Forest Park and should be operational in early 2026. If people are interested in learning more about or volunteering in this interfaith effort, you can contact them at immigrantministry@gmail.com.

In the spring, the Immigration Group held an adult enrichment program and, in response to a direct appeal, sent funds to support migrants being served by the Sanctuary Working Group. During the summer, group members worked on the Multicultural Arts Fair with the aim of inviting migrant families to a celebration of Hispanic culture in October. Unfortunately, that event had to be postponed due to ICE activity in Chicago, but we hope that it will be held eventually.

As ICE enforcement ramped up over the summer, Pilgrims stepped up to support migrants in various ways. We distributed Know Your Rights (KYR) cards and drafted a set of guidelines for the church about how to respond to any ICE action at Pilgrim. As a result, “Private” signs were placed on Preschool rooms, offices and other spaces where a search cannot legally be conducted without a warrant. Church members trained and volunteered to accompany migrants to court and ICE hearings. Other Pilgrims participated in “whistle mania” events, where KYR cards and whistles were packed for distribution in affected communities. Pilgrim members and friends participated in protests in Oak Park, Chicago, and the Broadview detention center. And still othersfrequented restaurants and other establishments in affected communities.

Thanks to all who filled our Blessing Box; it saw increased traffic during this time, especially when the government shut down.

In the fall, Immigration Group members met with the pastor and members of United Lutheran Church in Oak Park to discuss a migrant family that ULC had been supporting. We offered to help in a number of ways and, ultimately, the Immigration Group donated $2,000 toward that family’s rent and expenses to assist ULC with their effort.

Also in the fall, we reconnected with Exodus and have committed to providing food torefugees who are threatened with a loss of SNAP benefits. While benefits continued inDecember, they will likely not be available in January. We are ready to step up again!