Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, on Dec. 24, submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of State consenting to refugee resettlement in Chicago and opposing federal policies seeking to limit refugee entry to the United States.
The letter was submitted per the guidelines of federal Executive Order 13888, which specifies that refugees may only be resettled in U.S. jurisdictions where state and local governments have provided their consent.
"As a Welcoming City, Chicago is proud to submit our letter of consent to the State Department, ensuring our doors continue to remain open to refugees from around the world that are seeking a new home for themselves and a new future in our great country," said Lightfoot in a statement that Windy City Times received.
"It is especially fitting that we do so during this holiday season as we extend the blessings we received to those most in need. While the Trump Administration's Executive Order stands as another expression of their cynical vision to undermine America's heritage as a nation of immigrants, Chicago will continue to do everything it can to fight for our families, rise to our highest values, and remain a beacon of hope for families here at home and across the globe."
In another show of support for refugees amid the uncertainty at the federal level, the Department of Law joined several other U.S. cities in an amicus brief earlier this year, HIAS, Inc. vs. Donald Trumpa suit that opposes the potential negative impact of federal policies for Chicago's refugee communities.