Local Voices, National Debate: How Chicagoland Views Immigration

Hybrid

Craig Kafura, Michele Kenfack, Beatriz Ponce de León, and Juliana Kerr discuss new Chicago Council survey data on immigration attitudes in the Chicago area and what local opinion tells us about one of America's most debated issues.

People hold signs and flags at a protest opposing "Operation Midway Blitz" and the presence of ICE, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Chicago.

Jul

Erin Hooley / AP

Speakers

Craig Kafura
Michele Kenfack
Beatriz Ponce de León
Juliana Kerr

Date and Time

Jul 16: 5:30 - 6:30 pm CDT

Doors Open: 5:15 pm

Location

Chicago Council Conference Center, 130 E Randolph Street; or via YouTube

Who Can Attend

For All

REGISTRATION

This event is open to the public.

About This Event

Immigration is among the most contested issues in American politics, but what does public opinion look like closer to home? The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, with support from Walder Foundation and Schreiber Philanthropy, surveyed residents of Cook and Lake counties to find out. How do local attitudes on immigration compare to national trends, and where do they diverge? Where do residents find common ground, and where do potential divides run deepest? Join Craig Kafura, Michele Kenfack, and Beatriz Ponce de León, moderated by Juliana Kerr, for a discussion of the survey’s findings and what they reveal about how immigration is being experienced in the communities closest to home.

This program is made possible by Walder Foundation and Schreiber Philanthropy.

About the Speakers

Craig Kafura

Director, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Craig Kafura is the director of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, and a Pacific Forum Young Leader. At the Council, he coordinates work on public opinion and foreign policy and is a regular contributor to the public opinion and foreign policy blog Running Numbers.

Michele Kenfack

Research Specialist & Racial Justice Fellow, Chicago Urban League

Dr. Michele Kenfack is a Racial Justice Fellow at the Chicago Urban League, where she leads equity‑focused research and policy initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for Black Chicagoans. Her current work includes a storytelling project that uplifts the experiences of Chicago’s long‑time resident and immigrant populations, using narrative and data to inform policy and strengthen community power.

Beatriz Ponce de León

Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights, City of Chicago

Beatriz Ponce de León was appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson to serve as deputy mayor of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights for the City of Chicago in 2023. She previously worked for the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) where she held several roles, including assistant director of the Division of Family and Community Services and chief of staff for the Division of Mental Health.

Juliana Kerr

Senior Program Director, Migration, Walder Foundation

Juliana Kerr is the senior program director of the Migration and Immigrant Communities program at Walder Foundation. Previously, she spent 18 years at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs managing research projects, study groups, and an international network of fellows examining the role of cities in addressing global challenges, including migration.

Opening Remarks

Dina Smeltz

Managing Director & Chair, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.

Construction Alert Please note that the Randolph Street lobby of the Prudential building, where guests enter for Council events, will be under construction from April through December.

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