Know Your Rights:

Immigration Rights

Description: Immigrants, regardless of status, have specific legal protections, especially during interactions with immigration authorities.

Key Points:

  • Right to Remain Silent: You can choose not to answer questions about your immigration status.

  • Legal Representation: You have the right to consult with an attorney, though the government is not required to provide one in immigration proceedings.

  • Avoiding Fraud: Be cautious of notarios or unauthorized individuals offering legal advice.

  • Learn more rights at: https://immigrantjustice.org/know-your-rights/ice-encounter

Resources:

  • National Immigrant Justice Center - Know Your Rights: Provides detailed information on rights during encounters with immigration enforcement.

    National Immigrant Justice Center

Record Clearing & Expungement

Description: Expungement is the legal process of erasing or sealing arrest and conviction records, thereby removing barriers to employment, housing, and education. Eligibility and procedures vary by jurisdiction.

Key Points:

  • Eligibility: Typically depends on factors such as the nature of the offense, time elapsed since the conviction, and completion of sentencing requirements.

  • Process: Involves filing a petition with the court, possibly attending a hearing, and obtaining a court order for expungement.

Resources:

  • Illinois Legal Aid Online: Provides comprehensive guides on expungement and sealing in Illinois, including eligibility criteria and step-by-step instructions.

    Illinois Legal Aid Online

  • James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy: Offers free legal assistance for expungement and sealing of Illinois criminal records.

    James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy

Housing Rights

Description: Tenants have legal protections against unfair treatment, discrimination, and unlawful eviction. Understanding these rights ensures access to safe and stable housing.

Key Points:

  • Anti-Discrimination: Laws prohibit housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability, and other protected characteristics.

  • Eviction Procedures: Landlords must follow legal procedures for eviction, which typically require proper notice and a court order.

Resources:

  • City of Chicago - Know Your Rights: Provides information on housing discrimination and how to file complaints.

    English

  • Illinois Department of Human Rights: Enforces the Illinois Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing.

    Human Rights

Police Interactions

Description: Knowing your rights during encounters with law enforcement can protect you and ensure fair treatment.

Key Points:

  • Right to Remain Silent: You are not required to answer questions beyond identifying yourself in certain situations.

  • Searches: You have the right to refuse consent to searches of yourself, your vehicle, or your home, unless the officer has a warrant or probable cause.

  • Legal Representation: You have the right to consult with an attorney before answering questions.

Resources:

  • Illinois Attorney General - Know Your Rights: Offers guidance on interacting with law enforcement and understanding your rights.

    Illinois Attorney General

  • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Provides resources on your rights during various types of police encounters.

Employment Rights

Description: Employees are entitled to fair treatment in the workplace, including freedom from discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination.

Key Points:

  • Equal Opportunity: Employers cannot discriminate based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, age, disability, or conviction history.

  • Workplace Protections: Employees have rights related to wages, hours, safety, and the ability to report violations without retaliation.

Resources:

  • Illinois Department of Human Rights - Conviction Record Protection FAQs: Explains protections against employment discrimination based on conviction records.

    Human Rights

  • U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Provides information on federal employment discrimination laws.