Worried about deportation? Make a plan

Everyone who lives in the U.S. has legal rights, even if they are undocumented. Our legal rights are in the U.S. Constitution, a document that protects us from bad or unfair treatment by law enforcement or the government. To protect yourself, learn about the right to be silent, the right to talk to a lawyer, your rights inside your home or on the street, and more.

How to be ready for a raid or arrest:

• Know your rights: Learn when to stay quiet or ask to see a warrant.
• Have an emergency plan, with phone numbers to call, a lawyer's name and number, someone to take care of your family, and a safe place at home where you keep important papers and contact information.
• Do not use or carry a fake I.D. or information. Do not tell lies. Bad documents or lies can make your situation worse. 
• Watch these videos from the NYCLU to learn more. Practice what you learn.

Make a plan for your future, your family, your home, and your things at IMMI.org. It can help you prepare your family, manage your property, and make arrangements for your debts. IMMI is a nonprofit project to help immigrants understand their legal rights and options. 

If you are in a raid or arrest:

• Stay calm and think before you talk or act.
• Do not answer questions. You can tell the officer that you have a "right to remain silent." The U.S. government uses all the information you give them, and they can use this information to deport you. This includes documents, where you were born, or how you came to the U.S.  
  • If you want to answer questions, get legal help first. You can tell the officer that you want to talk to a lawyer. 
• If you are stopped on the street by police or immigration, you can ask if you are "free to leave?" If the officer says "yes," then you can calmly walk or drive away.
• Do not let police or ICE in your home. They need a "warrant" or your permission to come in.Tell them you will not open the door and they cannot come into your home without a warrant. A warrant is permission from a judge. It must be signed by the judge and include your name and address. Ask them to slip the warrant under your door.
• You do not have to sign papers that you do not understand. Wait until you talk to a lawyer. Do not let someone scare you about signing papers.