The six undocumented immigrants who were arrested last August 17, 2011 were found ‘not guilty’ of all charges. Nadia Sol Ireri Unzueta Carrasco (24), Fanny Lopez-Martinez (22), Jorge Mena (24), Arianna Salgado (19), and Carla Navoa (22) were facing State and City charges of blocking traffic, mob action, and reckless conduct. Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas declared that the prosecutors had not met their burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and that therefore the protesters were found not guilty of all charges.

“I’m glad that we tested the system, as undocumented youth, and found community support,” said Jorge Mena, a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an organizer with the Immigrant Youth Justice League. “However, Secure Communities is still being enforced and we need to continue bringing attention to how it is putting people into deportation proceedings and tearing families apart,” he added.

On her part, Lopez-Martinez added, “After seven months of court dates we won the case. After I heard the judge’s decision I felt that not only our commitment and courage were recognized, but also our movement’s cause,” she explained. This is the first action of civil disobedience by undocumented immigrants in the history of the U.S. where all participants have been declared ‘not guilty.’ The action took place as collaboration between the local undocumented immigrant led organizations, the Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL), Nuestra Voz, and the Latin@ Youth Action League (L@YAL).