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Protecting Yourself and Your Family

What should you do if ICE is there?

What should you do if ICE is there?

 

Click here to find out what to do if ICE is at your door, in your home, or outside in the street.  Learn what to do if ICE arrests you.  Click on top of page for information in Arabic, English, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish.  
Emergency Planning

Emergency Planning

 

The most important thing you can  do to prepare yourself is to write up an emergency plan today, so that it is ready if you and your family are separated.  Click English or Spanish * to get a plan you can download.  You can also pick one up at our CRCKY office.  If you are not able to write, call CRCKY so we can help you write one.

* French coming soon
Cards to Carry on You
Cards to Carry on You
Cards to carry in your wallet
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. Printouts of these cards are also available at the CRCKY office.  Click for Haitian Creole, French, or Spanish.

WHAT CAN I DO?​

 

ALL HOUSEHOLDS:​

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  • Complete a "Family Plan" (see above) so that your family and friends know what to do if you are not there.

  • If you have not already consulted with an immigration lawyer, this would be a good time to look for one.  Initial consultations inusually cost between $50 and $170 and can give you valuable information about your case.  For a list of immigration lawyers/clinics, click here.  Please know that these lawyers have a lot of people asking for their help right now.  Leave a message and don't be surprised if it takes a while for them to get back to you.

  • Educate yourself.  Only a search warrant written by a court and signed by a Judge gives ICE the right to enter your house and search your property. The warrant must have the correct name of the person or property, the right address, and the search must be done during the time written on the warrant.  Finally, it must be signed by a judge.  Be aware that an arrest warrant does NOT give ICE the right to enter or search your property.  You can refuse to let in an officer who only has an arrest warrant.

  • If you (1) entered the country more than 2 years ago, have (2) submitted an asylum application, (3) the government has not made a decision on your case yet, and (4) you have a receipt for the application, make sure you have an easily accessible copy of your receipt on your cell phone.  This is also true if you have filed any other legal application which would give you the right to stay legally in the US (for example, TPS, U Visa, T Visa, etc.)  If the government has not yet made a decision on your case, carry a copy of this receipt as well.

  • If you have an I-94 form which shows a departure date in the future, make sure you carry a copy of it in your wallet.  If the departure date on the I-94 has passed, it is NOT evidence that shows you have the right to be in the US.

  • If you have an un-expired employment authorization card, make sure you have a copy of it in your wallet. 

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IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAS CHILDREN:

  • If you have US citizen children, make sure they have passports and that you appoint a legal custodian for them in case you are not able take care of them.  Click here to sign up for a CRCKY passport workshop.

  • If you have school aged children, make sure you let their school know who has your permission to pick them up if you are not there.

  • If you have children in day care or with a babysitter, make sure you give them a list of people who can pick up the children if you are not there.

  • Make sure your children know where you keep your emergency plan.

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