Have You Heard #208 ‘A Lifetime of Hardship’
Nov 20, 2025
Patrick Brosnan, executive director of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, and Sofia Rodriguez, an associate professor at NYU, dive into the past and present of immigrant education rights. They discuss the impact of ICE activities in Chicago schools and explore the implications of the Plyler v. Doe ruling. Patrick shares efforts like the Southwest Rapid Response Team to protect students, while Sofia highlights local victories in legislation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community organizing and the critical need for educators to advocate for immigrant rights.
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Brighton Park School Ice Watch
- Patrick Brosnan describes Brighton Park as an 85% immigrant community with many mixed-status families.
- He recounts responding to suspicious vehicles near a school and organizing local alerts and Ice Watch to protect students.
Student-Led Sanctuary School Protocols
- Student leaders in Chicago developed sanctuary school protocols during the first Trump administration.
- Those policies include lockdown procedures, staff training, and assessments for students impacted by ICE actions.
Illinois Codified Plyler After Local Organizing
- Illinois codified Plyler v. Doe to block local bans and guarantee undocumented kids access to public schools.
- The move came after extensive organizing by immigrant-rights groups and community partners like Brighton Park Neighborhood Council.
