RAHM TAKES ANOTHER STEP TO REASSURE ANXIOUS IMMIGRANTS

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday took yet another step to curry favor with Hispanic voters by assisting immigrants living in fear of deportation after the election of Donald Trump.

Emanuel joined forces with U. S. Sen. Richard Durbin and U. S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, the nation’s leading champion for immigration reform, in co- chairing a new “Chicago is With You” task force.

The 23- member task force will “collaborate on mental health, legal services, diversity training for employers and education” to make certain the city is delivering “comprehensive services to immigrants, refugees and other disenfranchised communities,” officials said.

The task force includes aldermen, business, union, religious and community leaders and advocates for immigrants.

It also will work to develop a website that will serve as a clearinghouse of information for immigrants while connecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA) youth to Chicagoans who have volunteered to help them.

“At a time when the anti- immigrant rhetoric is at a fever pitch, Chicago is going to do everything we can to make sure that we keep families and communities safe,” Gutierrez said in a press release.

Emanuel said there has been a “tremendous show of support” for Chicago’s commitment to remain a sanctuary city where immigrants can access city services and live without fear of police harassment. Several organizations have come forward to “pledge their knowledge and expertise toward this cause,” the mayor said.

“The task force brings all of those resources together under a common goal to ensure we are delivering comprehensive services to these communities in need,” the mayor was quoted as saying.