Know Your Options
- If you are legally in the country, keep your documents current and carry proof of your immigration status.
- If you qualify for a visa or legal status, apply immediately.
- If you are a legal permanent resident, apply for citizenship.
- If you are a DACA recipient, apply for renewal if your DACA expires within 150 days.
- If you are a TPS recipient, analyze whether you are eligible for any other relief.
- If you are an asylum seeker, apply for your first work permit or renew your work permit if you have a two-year permit that will expire before 2028.
- If you live in a mixed-status household, all members should secure passports from countries of origin if possible.
- If you believe you may be eligible for an immigration benefit, consult with an attorney to see if there are options available to you. This tool may help: immi.org/en
Create a Safety Plan
- Memorize the phone number of a friend, family member, or attorney who you can call if arrested.
- If you take care of children, make a plan to have them cared for if you are arrested. Visit lacsn.org/prepare for ideas.
- Keep important documents, such as birth certificates and immigration documents, in a safe place where a family member can access them.
Prepare for Encounters with ICE
If ICE Stops You . . .
- You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any questions regarding your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the United States.
- Do not physically resist a government official and do not run away.
- If you have any valid immigration documents, show them to the ICE officers.
If ICE Comes to Your Home . . .
- You have the right to not open the door.
- You may remain silent and not answer any questions.
- You have the right to refuse any official wishing to enter without a warrant. A warrant must be shown to you and must have your correct name and address on it.
If ICE Takes You Into Custody . . .
- Ask to speak with an attorney.
- Do not sign any document that you do not understand. Even if the ICE officers are persistent and want to pressure you, do not sign.
- Request to see the immigration judge. In most cases, you may be able to ask for bail in order to be released from custody.
- You have the right to request to contact your country’s consulate for help.
- If you have minor children, let the officers know that you are the parent or primary caregiver. ICE may “exercise discretion” and let you go.
Click here to view the flyer.
Haga clic aquí para español.
Mag-click dito para sa Tagalog.
