Caption by Ashmar Mandou

On Wednesday, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) announced Mariana Ramirez as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District. Ramirez, a student at J.S. Morton West High School and resident of the Village of Lyons, Illinois, won for her piece, titled “Just Following Orders.” The artwork depicts the cruelty of ICE enforcement in Chicago and the impact it has had on all community members. “I wanted to bring awareness to this current issue and express the two sides using an anaglyph technique,” said Ramirez. “I also used words and images to symbolize the hate and discrimination of working-class immigrants who make America what it is today. Additionally, I added a mural on the wall that represents immigrants in America with monarch butterflies, which are natural migrants and symbolize the process of migration that is ever-present in nature and necessary for their survival. The art piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winning students’ artwork from across the country. “Art has always served as a reflection of the times we live in, and this is clear when we look at Mariana Ramirez’s piece. ‘Just Following Orders’ depicts some of the worst of the violent immigration operations that took place in Chicagoland last year,” said Congressman García.

Photo Credit: Office of Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García