New Ringtone Aims To Help Chicagoland's Immigrants Know Their Rights

By Mae Rice in News on Jun 5, 2017 8:40PM

Photo: Tyler LaRiviere

Can a ringtone prevent deportations? A local union, Unite Here Local 1, hopes so. The hospitality workers' union, operating in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, has released a Spanish-language ringtone meant to ensure immigrants know their rights in case of a deportation raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The ringtone, which sounds very fun and beachy, translates to the following practical message:

If immigration comes to arrest you, keep calm
You have the right not to sign anything and not to say anything
You have the right to remain silent
Also the right to ask for an attorney

It's available for download here.

News of the ringtone release comes hot on the heels of Illinois' new, statewide "Know Your Rights" campaign, which includes printable cards in English and Spanish on how best to interact with law enforcement.

Despite pressure from the Department of Justice, Chicago continues to remain a sanctuary city. There have been no known large-scale immigration-related sweeps in Chicago recently, but such arrests are up nationwide under the Trump administration.