From deepening our collective vision at our membership gathering to standing firm in defense of taxpayer privacy, we’ve been honing in on the most urgent needs of our members. 

Keep reading to learn how we are strengthening relationships, expanding worker knowledge through workshops, and advancing policies that protect and uplift workers across Illinois.

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☀️ What’s New & What’s Next: In Defense of Our Data, Expungements, and May Day

• This month, we joined Public Citizen Litigation Group and Alan Morrison in representing Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and Immigrant Solidarity Dupage in a lawsuit to prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from unlawfully disclosing tax return information to immigration enforcement authorities as part of Trump’s deportation agenda. Here’s the latest:
  • According to the Washington Post, the IRS is nearing an agreement with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would make it possible for the DHS to cross-reference immigration enforcement targets against confidential IRS tax databases.
  • West-coast organizations Inclusive Action for the City and Somos Un Pueblo Unido have also joined the lawsuit as plaintiffs. Read more over at citizen.org
  • Today, we filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the IRS’ deal with DHS that would grant unprecedented access to taxpayer data for immigration enforcement.⁠
• We had our first expungement hearing and WIN in DuPage County, representing a member of the Worker Center for Racial Justice (WCRJ). We look forward to making these tools available to all worker center members.
• At our quarterly membership gathering, we grounded our work in a shared theory of change, identifying how we build worker power, respond to urgent needs, and push for industry-wide improvements. Members highlighted the need for stronger collaboration, more research and data to inform advocacy, and deeper connections between worker center membership.
• RTF membership voted to join the May Day coalition and form a worker center delegation to march at the May 1st Rally. Stay tuned for more updates in April.
• We collaborated with Mijente, Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD), and Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to uplift the history of sanctuary cities under the hashtag #SanctuaryStays. For nearly 40 years, Chicago has been a place where families can build their lives free from fear and persecution. Sanctuary policies don’t just protect immigrants; they protect all of us by ensuring safer workplaces, stronger neighborhoods, and a more just city. Check it out on Instagram.
• We partnered with the Worker Center for Racial Justice (WCRJ) and Sunshine Gospel Ministries to facilitate an Expungement and Sealing Workshop attended by 24 people! We’re working with WCRJ to support these community members in filing their expungement and sealing requests in Cook County.
• RTF’s Legal Director Kevin H. co-led a seminar hosted by the Chicago Bar Association on the History of Immigration of Policy and the Impact of Legal Aid. 

⚖️ Springfield Update from our Policy Director

As legislative session unfolds, we welcome our Policy Director Anthony B. to the newsletter:

Since the start of the 2025 legislative session, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to Springfield alongside staff and workers from across our worker center coalition. Together we’ve been advocating for a robust legislative agenda aiming to strengthen workers rights, that includes: the right to sit at work, the right to privacy in the workplace, addressing the extreme temperatures conditions at workplaces, expanding formerly incarcerated Illinoisans’ rights, as well as expanding workers’ protections.

This past month, I joined Clean Slate’s advocacy day to close out March and commemorate Second Chance month. I’m proud that our coalition has continued to be a rallying force behind the Clean Slate legislation and SAFER Communities Act. These two critical pieces of legislation have the power to transform the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals and elevate workforce equity.

For our coalition, advancing legislation that creates opportunities for workers to thrive is not just a priority, it’s essential to sustain families and communities.