Know Your Rights/ Conozca Sus Derechos
We offer Know Your Rights presentations every month to ensure that everyone is fully informed about their rights and family preparedness planning. Whether you’re seeking this information for yourself or for someone else, we will be available to answer all questions, clarity and help fill out family preparedness packets
Everyone – both documented and undocumented persons – has rights in this country. Talk to everyone in your family (including children) and household to make sure they all know what to do if approached by immigration officials (ICE) or if immigration officials (ICE) come to your house.
ICE at Your Door. What do you do?
•Do not open the door for ICE or any police officer without a signed warrant.
•You do not need to open the door unless an ICE agent can show you a warrant signed by a judge with your specific and correct name and address on it.
•If ICE knocks on your door, ask them to slide the search warrant under the door or show it through a window.
•Make sure the warrant is signed by a judge and has your address on it.
• If ICE or the police do not have this, then you do not have to open the door. Once you open the door, you lose certain rights.
• Keep a Know Your Rights red card on you and by your door at all times. The red card explains your rights and that you do not have to open the door. You can slide it under the door to ICE, show it to ICE, or read the English side of the card to ICE. Have your children and other family members practice showing it or sliding it under the door. You can find print-at-home red cards in 14 languages at https://www.ilrc.org/red-
Talking to ICE. What do you do?
You have the right to remain silent and can refuse to answer ICE’s questions. Say that you want to remain silent until you speak with a lawyer. Do not answer any questions, especially about your birthplace, immigration status, or how you entered the United States. Do not give them any personal information about yourself or anyone in your family. Have your children and others in your family and household practice saying “No” to ICE.
You have the right to refuse to sign anything before you talk to a lawyer. Do not sign anything you do not understand and agree with. That could eliminate your right to speak with a lawyer or have a hearing in front of an immigration judge. This may result in you being deported immediately without a hearing. If you wish to remain in the United States, ask to go before the immigration judge.
You have the right to speak to a lawyer and the right to make a phone call. Make sure to memorize or carry the phone numbers of the person you will call in an emergency. Ideally, this person would be someone who can put your plans and wishes into place, call your immigration attorney, and access your important documents.
If you encounter ICE:
Remain calm and do not try to run away.
If you do, ICE or the police may use that against you.
Documents You Should and Should Not Carry with You
§ Carry a valid work permit or green card, if you have one. If you do not have one, generally it is advisable to carry a municipal ID, state ID, or driver’s license if it was issued in the United States and contains no information at all about your immigration status or your country of origin. Ask a local immigration advocate about what kind of documents are safe to carry in your area.
§ Carry a red card to exercise your right to remain silent in case you are stopped or interrogated by ICE or police officers.
§ Carry the telephone number of someone who can put your plans and wishes into place, call your immigration attorney, and access your important documents in an emergency.
§ Do not carry any documentation about your country of origin.
§ Do not carry any false identity documents or false immigration documents.
Find Us
Email Us
Sign Up for our Newsletter!
Please check your email after filling the form to comfirm.
We won’t share your information. We respect your privacy.