End of Year Updates from CAIR-Chicago | | Support CAIR-Chicago's End of Year Goal! | |
Critics grab at air, CAIR-Chicago grounds ourselves in FACTS! | | |
CAIR-Chicago’s Legal Team has successfully secured a green card approval for a community member facing significant immigration hardship. In a time when immigrants continue to encounter growing legal and emotional challenges, this victory highlights the impact of our advocacy and pro bono services. Every approval strengthens stability, reunites families, and reinforces our commitment to protecting those most vulnerable.
Grateful to our legal staff for their tireless work — and to everyone who supports this mission. If you’d like to help us continue providing these critical services, please consider donating at cairchicago.org/endofyear.
| | After a successful immigration filing, CAIR-Chicago staff went to see what the hype was about at this year's Christkindlmarket. Spoiler alert: the hot chocolate is incredible! | | Join AMLE, the American Muslim Legal Ecosystem! | | |
CAIR Chicago and Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) are building something our community has needed for years: a simple, trusted way to find legal support fast. The American Muslim Legal Ecosystem (AMLE) connects people to verified legal organizations and resources when the stakes are high.
You can help us grow it.
Visit the portal. Share it with your networks. Encourage local orgs to add their info.
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GrayStak Media Interview: Christopher Sweat sits down with Heena Musabji & Ahmed Rehab from CAIR-Chicago
"This is a very quintessentially American organization" - Ahmed Rehab, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director | PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago Condemns Discriminatory Travel Ban and Expanded Targeting of Afghan and Somali Immigrants | Chicago’s immigrant, refugee, and Muslim communities — including Afghans, Somalis, Sudanese, and others — face renewed fear and uncertainty. In recent months, aggressive enforcement such as “Operation Midway Blitz” have scarred local families and workers, particularly in immigrant neighborhoods. Legal proceedings and community reports are now revealing wrongful arrests, excessive use of force, and mis‑handled detentions — including video evidence showing misconduct during federal raids. This climate of fear, surveillance, and racial profiling now combines with sweeping visa freezes to deepen trauma within our city.
Sayeda Qader, Founder of Kalaam Project, said "Anti-Afghan sentiment has intensified in the wake of the National Guard shooting, and Afghan refugee families in the Chicagoland area are already living in fear due to the heightened ICE presence. Many Afghans, including allies who were promised safety, have had their immigration applications stuck in backlogs for months with no movement. They’ve been waiting so long for progress on their asylum and SIV cases that their humanitarian parole visas have expired, leaving them undocumented. This has created a climate of fear and uncertainty for a community that came here seeking protection and stability after the U.S. withdrawal. However, they have only received half promises and more threats of a US return.” | |
💬 Know Your Rights — Be Prepared!
CAIR-Chicago and the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago are offering Know Your Rights Presentations to help Chicagoland mosques, community centers, Islamic schools, and businesses understand how to respond to ICE and protect their communities.
📍 We’ll come to you in person or meet virtually via Zoom — your choice!
🔗 Sign up today at cairchicago.org/request-a-speaker
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📣 Lawyers & Legal Professionals:
Join Our Response to ICE!
We’re inviting attorneys & law students to get trained and join our network of responders.
Attending a training is mandatory before leading a session.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Z8PRJrPiPU6NATGJ9
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NOW HIRING: LAW CLERKS
Are you a law student, law graduate, paralegal student, or pre-law college student seeking to gain valuable, hands on experience in Civil Rights law? Apply for an internship or clerkship with our Civil Rights department today!
| | We supported our community partner Muslim Civic Coalition at their annual brunch. Muslim Civic Coalition is the main driver of policy change and advocacy for Muslims in the Chicagoland area. This year they helped push forward the Halal-Kosher bill and the Wadee Resolution, denouncing hate and honoring the memory of beloved 6 year old Wadee Al Fayoumi who was murdered by his landlord in an act of hate. | | Executive Director Ahmed Rehab gives Keynote for Muslim Women's Coalition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin | | CAIR-Chicago Visits the Chicago Commission on Human Relations to Give Presentation on Islamophobia | | As part of our work, we aim to build relationships with all Chicago government agencies. It was an honor to inform CCHR on Islamophobia and learn more about their work in helping Chicagoans coexist with each other in harmony. | | Building Global Bridges: Humza Yousaf Visits CAIR-Chicago | | Nov. 7th, 2025, CAIR-Chicago hosted Humza Yousaf, former First Minister of Scotland alongside the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Joined by Chicagoland Muslim leaders and organizations, we discussed a collaborative, unified approach to politics, Islamophobia, and building up our best and brightest young leaders for a fruitful future.
Despite his admission of facing backlash for speaking out, including repeated death threats, Humza Yousaf remains undeterred to tackle those who he believes are “trying to create a divisive narrative [and] who are putting Muslims in the crosshairs”, adding “they share their resources, they share their funding, they literally share talking points and scripts.” The former First Minister regards the issue as requiring a transatlantic solution, confirming he is leading an independent initiative to build a transatlantic alliance of “serious players coordinating the efforts in the United Kingdom and the United States” to combat what he deems a “common enemy and a common problem.” | | |
Participate In A Multimedia Project
"First Light, The Skylarks Sing" is a multimedia portrait project exploring the lived experiences of Muslim immigrants in the Chicagoland area. Through photography, audio, video, and narrative text, the project documents the emotional, social, and cultural complexities of immigration—focusing on themes of identity, belonging, resilience, and representation.
Calling all interested participants, willing to share their stories!
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