REMAIN SILENT! It IS Your Right...Whether Undocumented or Not
You have the right to remain silent. You may refuse to speak to immigration officers.
- 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 U.S.
Carry a know-your-rights card and show it if an immigration officer stops you.
- The card explains that you will remain silent and that you wish to speak with an attorney.
Do not open your door.
- To be allowed to enter your home, ICE must have a warrant signed by a judge. Do not open your door unless an ICE agent shows you a warrant. (They almost never have one.) If an ICE agent wants to show you a warrant, they can hold it against a window or slide it under the door. To be valid, the warrant must have your correct name and address on it.
- You do not need to open the door to talk with an ICE agent. Once you open the door, it is much harder to refuse to answer questions.
You have the right to speak to a lawyer.
- You can simply say, “I need to speak to my attorney.”
- You may have your lawyer with you if ICE or other law enforcement questions you.
Before you sign anything, talk to a lawyer.
- ICE may try to get you to sign away your right to see a lawyer or a judge. Do not sign any document without consulting with an attorney.
Always carry with you any valid immigration document you have.
- For example, if you have a valid work permit or green card, be sure to have it with you in case you need to show it for identification purposes.
- Do not carry papers from another country with you, such as a foreign passport. Such papers could be used against you in the deportation process.
- Do not carry fraudulent documents, such as a fake green card or work permit.
- You have the right to refuse to show any documents before speaking with a lawyer.
- If you are stopped while driving or behind the wheel of a car, you must show police or highway patrol your driver’s license.
Make sure you and others know what to do if approached by Immigration Officers.
- Inform your family, friends and any other acquaintances regardless of their immigration status, of their right to remain silent and all of the other mentioned rights if ICE or the police come to your home, neighborhood or workplace.
Remain calm and DO NOT try to run away. If you do, ICE or the police may use that against you.
Create a safety plan.
- Keep important documents such as birth certificates and immigration documents in a safe place where a
friend or family member can access them if necessary. - Memorize the phone number of a friend or family member in case you are detained.