The strongest defense against abuse comes from a knowledgeable and united community. Scroll down to find resources and materials to help you understand and defend your rights in the United States. We encourage you to closely monitor this webpage as we'll continue to add vital resources soon.
1. Do not open your door.
- To be allowed to enter your home, ICE must have a warrant signed by a judge or you must give them permission to enter.
- If an ICE agent wants to show you a warrant, you can ask that they hold it against a window or slide it under the door.
- For the warrant to be valid, the warrant must have your correct name, address, and be signed by a judge.
2. You have the right to remain silent.
- Don’t answer any questions. You may also say that you want to remain silent.
- Don’t say anything about where you were born or how you entered the US.
3. You have the right to speak to an attorney.
- Tell the ICE agent you want to speak to an attorney before answering any questions or signing any documents.
4. DON'T SIGN ANYTHING.
- You may ask if you are free to go.
- You have the right to remain silent.
- Do not have to consent to a search of yourself or belongings.
- If arrested by police, you have the right to government appointed lawyer.
- If detained by ICE, you have the right to consult with lawyer, but government is not required to provide one.
- You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, legal status, or how you entered country.
1. REDUCE RISK TO YOURSELF
- Stay calm.
- Don’t run, argue, resist, or obstruct an officer, even if you believe your rights are being violated.
- Keep hands where police can see them.
- Don’t lie about your status or provide false documents.
2. YOUR RIGHTS
- ICE does not need a warrant to enter public spaces in a business, but you still have rights.
- You have the right to remain silent.
- Do not have to consent to a search of yourself or belongings.
- If arrested by police, you have the right to a government appointed lawyer.
- If detained by ICE, right to consult with lawyer, but government is not required to provide one.
- You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, legal status, or how you entered country.
3. WHAT TO DO IN SUCH AN ENCOUNTER
- You may ask if you are free to go.
- Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately.
- Don’t lie or produce false documents.
- Don’t sign anything without speaking to a lawyer first.
- If agents force their way in, do not resist.
1. Step ONE: STAY CALM AND gather information
- Gather as much information as you can regarding the details of your loves one detention. You want to prepare by having A numbers. Upon their arrest you will be required to provide the A-number
- If your loved one filed a previous immigration application, or was arrested at the border and allowed to enter, they will have an A-number on related immigration documents
2. STEP TWO: Locating a detained friend or family member
- People arrested by ICE will first be processed by officers in an ICE detention and removal office or short-term facility for up to 72 hours.
- Then may be transferred to another place for long-term stay, often out of state.
- Some people may be transferred several times in the first few weeks.
- You can use the ICE detainee locator to find a person currently held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- If your loved one does not appear: look up the ICE Field Office closest to where your loved one was last seen.
- Use the phone number provided or email to contact the office and request information.
- If information is withheld, request to speak with a supervisor or contact the consulate for assistance.
3. STEP THREE: Know YOUR RIGHTS
- Exercise the right to remain silent
- They can refuse to answer questions about their immigration status without a lawyer present
- Politely state: “ I want to speak to a lawyer”
- You are not required to answer questions about your immigration status or where you were born without an attorney present
- Do not sign anything.
- Instruct your loved one to not sign any forms without consulting a lawyer.
- You have the right to contact your countries consulate.
- Consulate can assist with legal help and contacting family.
- Once you locate your loved one you may call the detention facility to plan a call/visit.
Red cards can help individuals to assert their rights in a variety of situations, such as ICE interaction. In stressful situations, it may be harder to remember your rights, so carrying one of these cards can be beneficial.
