Raíces 2026: Building Stability to Strengthen Latino Civic Power
Executive Summary
The Raíces 2026 Report, produced by the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF) and the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute, documents findings from the 2025 Raíces Public Policy Conference. Held amid heightened federal immigration enforcement actions, including “Operation Midway Blitz,” the conference convened nearly 1,000 stakeholders to address the economic, civic, and legal challenges facing Latino communities across Illinois.
A central theme of the report is perpetual instability. Latino workers remain essential to Illinois’ economy, contributing over $100 billion annually in GDP and sustaining key industries such as logistics, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and food service. Yet these same communities face labor precarity, immigration enforcement pressures, income volatility, and uneven access to public protections. The report argues that this instability is structural rather than incidental, constraining civic participation and weakening public trust.
The conference highlighted how enforcement activity disrupts local economies, depresses commercial corridors, and discourages engagement with public institutions. Latino voter registration continues to grow, but turnout remains uneven due to instability, caregiving burdens, misinformation, and fear. Community-based organizations—described as essential civic infrastructure—face rising demand, funding uncertainty, administrative strain, and shifting legal environments, particularly related to federal DEI restrictions.
The report outlines state-level legislative efforts, including the Illinois TRUST Act, Way Forward Act, Private Detention Facility Moratorium Act, Language Equity and Access Act, and the Illinois Bivens Act (HB 1312), aimed at protecting immigrant communities and strengthening civic inclusion.
Ultimately, the report concludes that stability is foundational to civic power. Strengthening labor protections, safeguarding community organizations, investing in equitable civic education, and building long-term voter engagement strategies are framed not only as civil rights measures but as necessary investments in Illinois’ democratic and economic future.