Message from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

          Please join me in-person, this Thursday November 20 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. for a Town Hall at Truman College (in the McKeon lobby) where I will unpack what was accomplished during Veto session, including fighting passionately to pass legislation to counter ICE and sharing on the Senate floor the impact ICE has on the 7th District, passing $1.5 billion in public transit funding and reform into law, and banning renter junk fees. Please click here to RSVP.

          This town hall is designed to provide important legislative updates but to also serve the community with healing practices, trauma recovery support (including canine therapy), and creative activities. We will have an on-site free mobile food pantry, and resource partners to encourage and support wellness.

          My office has been a mutual aid hub since November 1, and to-date have provided free food and essential items to over 128 neighbors in need. We are still helping many people every day! Please bring any new, unopened non-perishible food items and toiletries to this town hall, and we will be sure folks in need receive them!

          Thank you to all of the partner organizations and local small businesses participating to make this town hall unique and filled with resources!

• Canine Therapy Corps
• The Chicago Mosaic School
• DMApothecary
• Indo American Center
• Apna Ghar
• Centro Romero
• Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
• Chinese Mutual Aid Association
• South East Asia Center

          If you would like to volunteer or support in any way, please contact my office at 773-769-1717 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

SNAP Update Message from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

          Today is Wednesday, October 29 and I am in Springfield for the second and final week of Veto. While I am focused on passing legislation that serves the 7th District - like transit reform and renter’s rights - I want you to know that my heart is with you all, especially in light of the fact that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits will halt this Sunday, November 1 due to the unnecessary federal government closure. Important: SNAP benefits from months prior to November can still be used. Across the entire country, all enrolled in SNAP, over 40 millions people, will not receive benefits in November. You can read my formal statement on this issue here.

          In the 7th District, 25,869 residents depend on SNAP. 7,086 of these residents ARE CHILDREN, 10,708 are between the ages of 19-59, and 8,075 are over the age of 60 (per the Illinois Department of Human Services). I know what it feels like to go to bed hungry, and as your state senator, I will not stand idly by and allow any child, any senior, or any family to needlessly go hungry in my district.

          Beginning Monday, November 3, I am transforming my district office, located at 1040 W. Bryn Mawr, into a mutual aid hub to make sure as many people as possible are fed. I and my staff will be accepting non-perishible, shelf-stable nutritious food, toiletry items, and diapers. Our hours will be Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

          This is a call to action. If you have the ability to drop off a donation, volunteer your time to help receive donations and distribute them, or contribute by providing outreach, please call or stop by my office. I and my staff will make sure individuals who are not able to leave their homes or feel safe leaving will receive food, and will coordinate drop-offs of donations to our local food pantries.

          Also, it is critically important that we support our incredible food pantries, they need resources, volunteers, and donations. Below you will find a comprehensive list of these organizations in the 7th District.

          As we approach the holiday season, a time of year that emphasizes generosity and celebration, I know we will overcome this challenging moment together, just as we always do. We need helpful, caring, friendly neighbors to support this community effort and truly appreciate all of you.

          If you would like to support in any way, please contact my office at 773-769-1717 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. From my heart to yours, thank you.

Sincerely,




Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

ICE Alert Message from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

          Over the past week I have continued to witness and receive reports of ICE activity and detainments throughout the 7th District. If you have not already, please add the ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights) hotline into your phone: 855-435-7693. If you witness ICE or encounter them yourselves, please call this number immediately.

          My team and I have witnessed, first-hand, ICE agents on our streets across the 7th District including in Rogers Park, Lincoln Square/Budlong Woods, Edgewater, Lakeview, Ravenswood, Uptown, and West Ridge. ICE has been active throughout the northside over the past week, abducting neighbors with no due process nor respect for guaranteed rights provided by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. It is illegal activity and a gross overreach and abuse of federal power.

          On Sunday at around 10:30-11 a.m., I was out scouting for ICE near a supermarket in West Ridge when a neighbor alerted me that a violent abduction had just taken place a block away at Western and Touhy. I could not believe how the ICE agents kidnapped the person from the car by smashing the window and left the car abandoned in the middle of a busy intersection at Western and Touhy with glass on the street and the person’s ID, medications, and carseat and stuffed animal in the car. I recorded this video at the scene as I stood with shaken neighbors and remained vigilant for more ICE activity throughout the day while making contact with the Secretary of State's office to secure the car and am working with them to get the car back to the family. I then walked and biked around the 7th District in my official State Senate vest helping to scout for ICE and comfort our neighbors and supporting our rapid response and mutual aid networks.

          Since last Thursday (October 9th) in the 7th District, we have seen the following incidents, but these are in no way exhaustive of everything that has happened:

• Multiple neighbors and landscapers detained by ICE at Lincoln and Foster in Lincoln Square, including the unlawful and violent arrest of a WGN producer.
• One landscaper was abducted at Sheridan and Catalpa in Edgewater.
• At least two neighbors were abducted at Clark and Lunt in Rogers Park alongside the harassment of a long-time tamale vendor who is a lawful permanent resident.
• At least one neighbor was detained at Magnolia and Leland in Uptown.
• ICE sightings outside of local schools, including Ravenswood Elementary.
• ICE harassing and threatening neighbors conducting community watch efforts with threats of arrest and physical violence.
• Additional sightings and detainments tracked by local rapid response teams that are quickly forming and mobilizing in response to ICE’s increased activity in the 7th District. See the rest of this newsletter for full details on how to get involved with rapid response teams.

          I and my staff are working closely with local rapid response and mutual aid networks to ensure safe passage for students and families to and from school. I and our 7th District staff have also been out by bike across the 7th District on the lookout for ICE, attending community solidarity events, and assisting families and neighbors that I have seen affected by ICE directly. I’ve also been in daily communication with my colleagues in the General Assembly and allies across the State government to share community organizing plans and even locate loved ones that have been taken by ICE.

          It is crucially important that everyone knows their rights regarding immigration status, how to respond to ICE if you encounter them, how to safely and accurately report ICE activity, and how to connect with the community and help keep one another safe. Direct information on how to connect to training, outreach efforts, and upcoming events can be found through ICIRR, Protect Rogers Park, and ONE Northside. Please see below for specific upcoming training and events.

          My office and I have received an outpouring of supportive responses from people from all over northern Illinois who want to help. I am so proud of our community, who has come together, mobilized, and vowed solidarity in protecting one another.

          I am currently in Springfield for the first week of the Fall veto legislative session. Veto runs from October 14-16th and 28-30th.

          I am aggressively raising questions in the Senate about several concerning components to what has unfolded here. First, yesterday I have demanded answers as to why the Illinois State Police has been on site at the Broadview Detention facility in Broadview, Illinois where several protestors have been violated exercising their free speech rights to demonstrate. I also am deeply concerned that there has been little or no communication with legislators in our oversight capacity as to why the state troopers have played any role at Broadview. I will continue to push aggressively for answers on this. I was proud to strongly support and vote for the Illinois Trust Act in 2021 which prohibits Illinois law enforcement from cooperating with ICE. And we need to remain a sanctuary state where our state troopers, Chicago police, and other law enforcement do NOT cooperate with ICE – period. And I am furious at the sustained violence unleashed onto Chicago and our neighborhoods in recent days. This is not a time for complacency from our elected officials and those in power and we all need to be working together actively and in good communication to bring an end to all of this.

          I also am ready to strongly support several bills that are in development for the current veto session that would work to stop ICE enforcement activities in or near our schools, hospitals, and other community spaces as we’ve seen in the recent days.  I am working actively to shape these bills to make sure they will be robust and effective at keeping ICE out of our communities. I will keep you updated in my successive newsletters as the legislation is drafted and considered in the next two weeks.

          See you all again soon. If you need to reach my office, please call 773-769-1717 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sincerely,




Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

ICE Alert Message from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

          This morning ICE agents were spotted in the 7th District in Rogers Park at the corner of Clark and Lunt at approximately 10 a.m. I want to remind folks what resources are available to you. Please call the ICIRR hotline at 855-435-7693 to report any additional sightings.

          If you need to reach my office, please call 773-769-1717 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mensaje de alerta de ICE del senador estatal Mike Simmons

Estimado vecinos,

Esta mañana, los agentes de ICE fueron vistos en el Distrito 7, en Rogers Park en la esquina de Clark y Lunt aproximadamente a las 10 a.m. Quiero hacerles recuerdo que hay recursos disponibles para todos ustedes.

Por favor, llamen a la linea directa de ICIRR al 855.435.7693 para informar de cualquier avistamiento adicional y otras observaciones de ICE.

Si necesitan contactar a mi oficina, por favor llamen al 773.769.1717 o envíen un correo electrónico al This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sincerely/Sinceramente,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District