Susan Compernolle (credit: Chicago Tribune)
On June 15, 2018, beloved Chicago activist and immigration lawyer Susan Compernolle peacefully passed away while surrounded by family.
Sue worked and volunteered in several immigration organizations including Centro Romero and American Immigration Lawyers Association. She passionately committed to providing legal aid to countless immigrants. Her brother, Paul Compernolle told the Chicago Tribune, “[Sue] was always off doing good things, helping farmworkers in Florida and the Carolinas who were facing deportation.”
James Fujimoto, a federal immigration judge in Chicago, worked with Sue on immigration issues including the National Immigration Project of National Lawyers Guild (NLG). The non-profit initiative promotes justice and equality of treatment in all areas of immigration law, the criminal justice system, and social policies related to immigration.
NLG Chicago honored Sue with the Arthur Kinoy award in 2008 as recognition of her enduring and distinguished commitment to the struggle for immigrants’ rights. Sue joined the Guild while attending Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, where the student chapter was involved in the struggle to end U.S. involvement in Latin America. Her ability to speak Spanish fluently allowed her to travel widely in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
After living a full life, Sue – who friends described as a “quiet advocate with a keen sense of justice”—died of cancer in her Edgewater neighborhood home. Sue’s memorial service was held at Donnellan Funeral Home in Skokie, IL.
NLG Chicago’s board and members express our deepest condolences to the Compernolle family and friends in the activist community. Susan, PRESENTE!
