PILSEN, IL — Eréndira “Ere” Rendón, a prominent immigrant rights advocate and leader in the Pilsen community, has been honored by the Mexican government for her work empowering Mexican immigrants. Rendón, the vice president of immigrant justice for The Resurrection Project, received the 2024 Ohtli Award on November 1, the highest recognition granted to Mexicans abroad.
“It’s an honor to receive recognition from the Mexican government,” Rendón said. “I’m proud to represent both my Mexican heritage and the undocumented community I work to support.”
The award recognizes Rendón’s unwavering commitment to advocating for justice, creating opportunities, and building a better future for Mexican and Latino communities. The Mexican Consulate in Chicago highlighted her dedication to uplifting immigrants and securing their rights.
Rendón, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, immigrated to the U.S. in 1990 to reunite with her father. Her personal experiences as an immigrant shaped her mission to protect and support others in similar circumstances, particularly in areas like access to healthcare, driver’s licenses, and employment opportunities.
As a member of the 3.6 million undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children, Rendón is one of the 530,000 Dreamers currently protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA, established in 2012, shields eligible immigrants from deportation and allows them to apply for work permits, though the program has faced legal challenges over the years.
Before DACA’s approval, Rendón struggled to find work after college due to her lack of a Social Security number or work permit. “I had to find alternative ways to make a living,” she said, eventually becoming an independent consultant working with various organizations in the immigrant rights field. Although she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she was ineligible for financial aid due to her undocumented status.
Throughout her career, Rendón has pushed for pro-immigrant reforms, advocating for work permits for all immigrants and campaigns like Illinois’ 2012 law allowing undocumented residents to obtain temporary driver’s licenses. She saw the positive impact of the law firsthand as her own family gained peace of mind knowing they could drive without fear of deportation.
Rendón has also been instrumental in expanding healthcare access for undocumented immigrants in Illinois, a crucial lifeline for many who contribute to the economy but lack access to public benefits. “For many immigrants, access to healthcare means life or death,” she said.
Her efforts, driven by both personal experience and a sense of duty to improve the lives of immigrants, continue through her work with The Resurrection Project. The organization educates immigrants about their rights, offers legal services, and supports individuals facing deportation.
Rendón’s award comes at a critical time, just days before the election of President-elect Donald Trump, who campaigned on stricter immigration policies. With changes in the political landscape, she remains committed to supporting immigrant communities, ensuring they understand their rights, and assisting them in navigating an increasingly complex immigration system.
Through The Resurrection Project and its partners, Rendón and other advocates work to prepare immigrants for potential legal challenges, especially those eligible for DACA, Temporary Protected Status, or status adjustment.
Related topics:
- Will Trump’s Victory Speed Up Green Cards for H-1B Workers and STEM Graduates?
- Trump Is Filling His White House with Hardline Immigration Advocates
- Trump’s Border Czar Tells Critics: ‘Legal Immigrants Are Completely Safe’
