We are a collective of around 30 different organizations, community groups, and faith communities who are dedicated to supporting vulnerable migrants in their journeys towards sustainable independence. We are rooted in collaborative, community solidarity and action, and though we are a program of Wellington UCC, we are not a religious organization. Many of our members represent faith communities from diverse denominations and different religions, while others are more secular. Our network of members are united by shared values and goals, and every week we work to share resources, information, and calls to action so that we may better serve our communities.

Learn more about SWG membership HERE.

The SWG is committed to:

1. Fostering safe spaces for ALL and continuing to respect the autonomy of all people

2. Demonstrating compassionate hospitality

3. Prioritizing collaboration among our partner organizations and those we accompany

4. Embodying and building trust through group-oriented decision making, mutual responsibility, and accountability

5. Seeking the inclusion of Chicago’s immigrant and other under-resourced communities in decision-making roles while valuing and respecting the diversity of Chicago’s immigrant communities regardless of any perceived differences

Since 2020, the SWG has provided direct support to over 600 individuals and families primarily from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Central-East Asia. We continue to be dedicated to providing support for immigrant individuals and families in the Chicagoland area, while also understanding that sustainable independence cannot be achieved without also addressing systemic discrimination, oppression, and injustice.

The SWG meets every week to discuss policy updates, advocacy opportunities, calls to action, and any community announcements. Part of each meeting is also dedicated to receiving requests from our members for direct support to immigrant individuals and families. The support provided by the SWG falls into three main categories:

• Housing

  1. Short-term emergency housing

     • This is usually either at a private host’s home, a faith community, or at a motel.

     • Common requests include people who have a week or two in between when they need to leave one space (like a shelter) and when they are allowed to move into their next space (like an apartment).

     • Short-term housing also encompasses people who need Sponsors in order to be released from detention. These stays are more involved and can range from 2 weeks to 6 months.

  • Long-term Housing

    • This is usually for families who have been on our waitlist and have a variety of factors that will prevent them from being able to pay rent for a longer period of time (medical reasons, immigration court hold-ups, family emergencies, etc).

    • This is either in an external apartment, in a host’s home (we only have two long-term hosts currently), or in a faith community via the Faith Community Initiative.

    • Unfortunately we are currently limited in regards to the long term support we can provide due to funding constraints.

• Case Management

  • Referrals within our collective

  • Staff-supported services

• Legal

  • Know Your Rights

  • Court Accompaniment

  • Pro-Se Workshops

  • Resource sharing within our collective

As a group, the SWG began meeting together in March of 2020 to address the dangerous conditions inside detention centers around the country during the pandemic. But 2020 was far from the first time the founding members of the SWG worked together towards a common cause.

The SWG was founded by people who were active during the Sanctuary Movement in the 1980’s, and who have even longer histories fighting for immigrant rights before that. The various individuals and groups that make up the SWG have been standing with immigrant communities in Chicagoland and around the US for longer than some of our newer members have been alive. We learn from their wisdom, their struggles, and their successes.

Originally a branch of the Chicago Religious Leadership Network (CRLN), in June of 2023 the SWG made the move to become a program of Wellington UCC. Wellington as a faith community has been at the forefront of the fight for Sanctuary since the 80’s, and was the second church in the US to publicly declare themselves a Sanctuary Church. Now, Wellington serves as the financial home of the SWG and we use the 501c3 of WUCC.

Most importantly, the SWG walks a path that has been paved by the incredibly brave immigrants who have made this country home. Our history is inextricably linked together, and we continue to walk forward with each other, working to pave the path to the beloved community we want our children to experience in the future.

We are extremely grateful to our funding partners for allowing us to continue the essential work we do day to day. While our SWG Emergency Fund is entirely funded by community donations, the majority of our operating expenses and long-term housing support comes from the grants we have graciously received from the following organizations and foundations:

• The Chicago Community Trust

  • The IL Immigration Funder Collaborative

• The Community Renewal Society

• The Crossroads Fund

• The Lohengrin Foundation

• The MacArthur Foundation

• Schreiber Philanthrophy

• The Walder Foundation

Thank you to all of you who have donated to our Emergency Fund! Help us sustain our work by donating today.

A. Sanctuary - history, meaning, and traditions 

1. Wikipedia

2. Britannica

3. ImmigrationHelp.org
   

B. Sanctuary Cities - laws, regulations, and history

1. Center for Immigration Studies: Map of Sanctuary Cities, Counties, and States, including explanatory podcast and May 2025 updates.

2. American Immigration Council: an overview of Sanctuary Policies

3. Time Magazine: Sanctuary Cities are not new - historical context

4. The Chicago Tribune: Chicago’s History as a Sanctuary City
   

C. The Sanctuary Movement

1. Podcast Series from IRMCE – Sanctuary: On the Border Between Church and State

2. The Chicago History Museum: The Sanctuary Movement in Chicago

3. Amherst: The Legacy of the Sanctuary Movement in the Midwest