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Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights

home

If ICE Comes to Your Home

  • You do not have to open the door unless officers have a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge.
  • If the officers say they have a warrant, you may tell them to hold it up to the window or slide it under the door.
  • If officers produce a judicial search warrant signed by a judge, make sure that the name and address on the warrant properly identifies you and your home.
  • If the officers do not have a valid warrant, you have the right to tell them you do not consent to a search of your home. In this scenario, you need not open the door.
  • You have the right to remain silent and to refuse to answer any questions.
street

If ICE Comes to Your Workplace

  • Depending on your state, you may need to provide your name.
  • You have the right to remain silent and to refuse to provide any information (other than your name if you are required to do so in your state). If you choose to answer questions, tell the truth.
  • Ask, “am I free to go?” If the officers say yes, walk away. If they say no, you can say, “I assert my right to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer.”
  • If ICE asks to search your person or belongings, you can say “I do not consent to a search.”
car

If ICE Stops You in Your Car

  • You may not know whether the police or ICE agents are making the stop. You may ask for identification from the officers.
  • If you are driving, depending on your state, you may need to provide your driver’s license. You are not required to provide proof of lawful status.
  • You may assert your right to remain silent. Tell the officers “I do not want to answer questions, and I assert my right to remain silent.”
  • Ask, “am I free to go?” If they say yes, wait until the officer is a safe distance from the car before driving away. If they say no, you can say “I assert my right to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer.”
workplace

If ICE Comes to Your Workplace

  • If you are the owner of a private business, you have the right to refuse ICE access to private areas of the business. If the officers do not have a judicial warrant, you can tell them, “I do not consent to you entering non-public areas of the business.”
  • An administrative warrant does not grant ICE authority to enter non-public areas of your business.
  • If you are a worker, you can assert your right to remain silent. If agents tell you to get into groups by immigration status, you do not need to comply.
  • Ask, “am I free to go?” If they say yes, walk away. If they say no, you can say “I assert my right to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer.”
school

If ICE Comes to Your School

  • All students have the right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status.
  • Absent exigent circumstances, ICE officers are not entitled to enter non-public areas of an institution without consent or a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge or consent.
  • An administrative warrant does not grant ICE authority to enter non-public areas.
  • If you are a student and are approached by ICE officers, you may exercise your right to remain silent. Ask, “Am I free to go?” If they say yes, walk away. If they say no, you can say “I assert my right to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer.”
documentation

Expedited Removal And What Documentation To Consider Carrying With You

  • The Trump administration is seeking to expand the authority of ICE officers to rapidly deport new arrivals found in the interior of the United States, without letting them go before a judge. This rapid deportation process is called expedited removal. No person who can demonstrate that they have been in the United States longer than 2 years may be deported under this process.
  • If you have resided in the United States longer than 2 years, you should consider carrying on your person at all times evidence demonstrating you have been physically present in the United States for at least two years.
  • You may wish to consider not carrying documents that indicate that you are a foreign national.

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