Some pro immigrants groups such as American Immigration Lawyers Association, National Immigration Law Center have provided tips on how to act if you encounter an ICE officer on a public place, at your worksite or at your house.
Some of these tips include:
If ICE Visits your Home
- Do not open the door unless the ICE officer have a valid search warrant to enter your house.
- If the ICE office claim to have a search warrant ask him/her to slide it under the door. Verify if your name and address is correct and if it is signed by the judge. If it is not you do not need to open the door. You can talk with the closed door if necessary
- You have the right to remain silent. Advise the officer you have the right to and want to remain silent, and you want to call an attorney.
- You have the right to speak to an attorney
If ICE Visits your Workplace
- Do not panic or run away, if you think you need to leave do so walking
- If you are stopped ask if you are free to leave, if the office says no, do not leave the premises
- If you are questioned you have the right to remain silent
- If the officer asks you to stay on groups according to immigration status, you do not need to move
- You have the right to speak to an attorney
- You can refuse being searched on yourself or your belongings without a valid search warrant
If ICE Stops you in a Public Place
- You may ask to leave, if the office says no, do not leave
- You have the right to remain silent, tell the office you want to remain silent
- If you are asked where you were born or how you entered the U.S. you may refuse to answer
- You may refuse a search on yourself or your belongings
- You have the right to speak to an attorney
Additional Tips
- Always carry a valid immigration document with you, such as a valid Employment Authorization Card, Green Card or other
- Do not carry your passport or another country's ID as it may be used against you
- Create a safety plan
- If you have kids, add friends/family as pick you persons allowed at your kids' schools, and make plan to have them taken care of you are detained.
- Let closed family and relative know where your immigration and other important documents, such as birth certifications, are
- Memorize you attorney's number and other important numbers
- Always carry the Know Your Rights card below, created by National Immigration Law Center, to hand it to an ICE officer if needed.