Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago

05/29/2026

Last week, a new USCIS policy memo was released regarding “Adjustment of Status” and the green card process. While this memo is the latest obstacle in an already complicated immigration system designed to create uncertainty and fear, here is what our community should know:

-Do not panic or make rushed decisions.
-Be cautious about misinformation, speculation, and immigration fraud.
-Speak with a trusted immigration attorney before taking any action.

The memo does not automatically mean anything has immediately changed for any individual case. This memo may also face legal challenges, which may affect how, when, or whether it is implemented.

Every case is different, and decisions should be made with accurate information and trusted support, not fear.

If you have questions or concerns, know that you are not alone in this process. Call the ICIRR Family Support Network hotline to consult an attorney: 855-435-7693 (available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Dari, Urdu, Pashto, Cantonese, and Mandarin)

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Kick off Pride Month with us by joining the Northside Lakefront Rapid Response Team on Saturday, June 6 from 4:30-7:30pm to talk with businesses in Boystown about their rights and what to do if they encounter immigration enforcement. Additional information will be shared with registrants, and those who do not register will not be admitted.

Everyone deserves to feel safe regardless of the color of our skin or who we love. Let’s keep coming together to protect our communities from ICE by making sure everyone knows what to do in the face of immigration enforcement actions!

Register to get the location: www.bit.ly/NoLfKYR (link is case-sensitive)

05/23/2026

Joy is resistance, and on Thursday, we gathered with our community to resist with a little FUNdraiser! The A Just Chi Giving Project raised over $6,500 to support our Immigrant Justice (IJ) and Abolition and Building Communities (ABC) working groups!

Thanks to for hosting us, for offering tarot readings, and all the local artists and small businesses who donated to our raffles. Big shoutout to the A Just Chi Giving Project working group for their hard work making this amazing event happen! And so much appreciation for all our volunteers, board members, and friends who attended and donated to support our work in this critical time!

If you missed our event, you can always donate at https://advancingjustice-chicago.org/supportusl

Raffle prizes from: .kane .studio .snacks Jenny Lake, LPC

📸: Nick Robins

05/22/2026

Last week, we led the Northside Lakefront Rapid Response Canvassing Team to knock on 210 doors and have 30 Know Your Rights conversations in Uptown!

These canvasses are key to educating our neighbors about what to do if they encounter ICE. Keep an eye out for more information about our next KYR canvass in Boystown in June!

05/18/2026

Applications are open for our new KINETIC Organizing Fellowship! 💫

Are you an Asian American CPS high school student? Do any of the following excite you?

✨ reflecting on your Asian American identity as a political identity

✨ expanding your knowledge of political issues

✨ developing organizing skills and learn how to take action

✨ getting involved in our ongoing city and state-level campaign work

✨ building community with fellow youth leaders from high schools all over Chicago

Then apply today at www.bit.ly/KINETICfellow2026 (case sensitive)

05/15/2026

AAPI Heritage Month ICYMI round-up!
🔥 Joined the hAAPI hour an AAPI community showcase with Stir Friday Night at HAIBAYO
🔥 Caught our monthly partner Mahal Tea Company at the Lincoln Square Farmers Market
🔥 Enjoyed the Ube Painkiller cocktail at Cebu Chicago
🔥 Grabbed drinks at the K-Town Pop-up from Coquetel Collective at Parachute HiFi
🔥 Sipped on the Desert Candle cocktail at Chef's Special Cocktail Bar

To learn more about upcoming events and month-long partnerships in our AAPI Heritage Month campaign, check out our webpage at bit.ly/aapi-chi. Thanks to all our participating partners!

05/13/2026

We’re excited to welcome Angela Lin (she/her) as the newest member of our team! Angela is now our Communications Strategist here at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, working to advance narrative change, raise organizational visibility, and amplify the work of our bases, campaigns, and coalitions. She is the youngest daughter of Taiwanese immigrants born and raised in Ohio, with a degree in English from the University of Michigan.

Previously, Angela worked as the Communications Manager at Ohio Voice, the civic engagement table providing communications capacity support to 30+ progressive organizations and campaigns around the state. Before that, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Second Harvest Food Bank. In Ohio, she was also a member leader with OPAWL - Building AAPI Feminist Leadership in Ohio

In her spare time, Angela is a writer for BroadwayWorld Chicago and loves to explore the local arts scene. She enjoys puzzling, reading, crafting, and playing Nintendo video games, DDR, and board games.

05/12/2026

Don’t drink alcohol? No problem! This month for AAPI Heritage Month, there are a lot of fundraiser items that are alcohol-free. To see our most up-to-date info, visit our webpage at bit.ly/aapi-chi

Visit these businesses to support Advancing Justice | Chicago this month!
⭐ Chi’Tiva: Tropical Sunset Refresher drink (contains THC)
⭐ Chicago Test Kitchen: Ube Taho and Ube bun (2 items)
⭐ Da Local Boy: Lumpia
⭐ Doom Street Eats: Special food item (TBD)
⭐ HAIBAYÔ: Mekong Citrus drink
⭐ JT’s Genuine Sandwich Shop: Roast Pork & Greens sandwich
⭐ Kimski: Maria's Standard hot dog
⭐ Lonesome Rose: Fire Chicken taco of the month
⭐ Luella’s Southern Kitchen: Weekly rotating food specials
⭐ Mahal Tea Company: All their iced teas
⭐ Marz Brewing x Joong Boo: Limited-edition Ube Soda and Yuzu Soda (2 items)
⭐ Parson’s Chicken & Fish: Korean fried chicken sandwich of the month
⭐ Paulie Gee’s Logan Square: Lady Lola woodfired pizza (vegan available), Netflix and Chilee woodfired pizza, Hooked on the Hog Detroit pizza, and the Zac Stuff mocktail
⭐ PERILLA fare: Cheong & Cheerful mocktail
⭐ Pilot Project Brewing (Logan Square): Round-up to the nearest dollar on all orders
⭐ PINK MU (Seoul Taco River North): Chicken Katsu kimbap
⭐ Saigon Sisters: Bun Cha Hanoi dish