Know Your Rights

All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution.

1. Have a Plan in Place

• Identify your emergency contacts and memorize their phone numbers.
• Provide your child's school or day care with an emergency contact to pick up your child
• Provide authorization in writing for your emergency contact to make medical and legal decisions for your child.
• Tell your loved ones that if you are detained by ICE, they can try to use ICE's online detainee locator to find you: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search

   2. You have the right to remain silent

• Your right to remain silent is a powerful right under the U.S. Constitution.
• Exercising this right when approached by ICE can protect you from saying something that they may use to deport you.
• If ICE approaches you, clearly state that you are choosing to remain silent.
• Remain silent and answer none of their questions until you speak with a lawyer if you are detained, especially about your birthplace, Immigration status, or how you entered the United States.
• Speak with an attorney and make a plan to prepare for this situation.

   3. Remain calm and do not run away

• If ICE approaches you on the street, do not run away, as this could be a reason for ICE to arrest you.
• Do not consent for them to search your person or property.
• Do not provide any foreign or false documents.
• If ICE questions you on the street, ask if you are free to leave.
• If they say you are free to leave, calmly and silently walk away.
• Speak with an attorney about what documentation you should and should not carry with you.

   4. You have the right to demand a judicial warrant before letting ICE into your home

• You have the right under the U.S. Constitution to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures.
• ICE cannot enter your home without a valid judicial warrant.
• An ICE warrant is NOT a judicial warrant; it does NOT give ICE the authority to enter your home and conduct a search.
• If ICE claims they have a warrant, do not open the door for them to show it to you.  Ask them to slip it under the door or show it through a window.

   5. You have the right to speak with a lawyer if you are arrested

• If you are in ICE custody, do not sign anything without speaking to an attorney first, as it could eliminate your right to speak with a lawyer or have a hearing in front of an immigration judge.

   6. U.S. citizen allies can play a vital role

• You have the right under the First Amendment to record or take photos in public view of law enforcement and ICE so long as you do not interfere with an arrest. 
• Obtain important information about what you witnessed (names, phone numbers of any witnesses, badge numbers, etc.).