HACES
Protect yourself, protect your loved ones. Protégase, proteja a sus seres queridos.
This page is a comprehensive guide created for community members and organizations to understand their rights and what to do if encountered with ICE. The guide is split into three sections: 1) Know Your Rights 2) Prepare 3) Take Action.
Immigration law is changing rapidly. Please keep visiting this site for the latest updates.
Immigration law is changing rapidly. Please keep visiting this site for the latest updates.
Esta página es una guía completa creada para que los miembros de la comunidad y las organizaciones comprendan sus derechos y qué hacer si se encuentran con ICE. La guía está dividida en tres secciones: 1. Conozca sus derechos 2. Prepárese 3. Actúe.
La legislación de inmigración cambia rápidamente. Por favor, siga visitando este sitio para ver las últimas actualizaciones.
Know Your Rights | Conozca Sus Derechos
English
If you encounter ICE in a public place.
A public place is considered anywhere that is not your home. This can include but not limited to your job, a place of workshop, in a store, etc.
ICE CANNOT legally detain you without a warrant, signed by a Judge or probable cause. If you run, that can be considered probable cause. DO NOT RUN.
What is probable cause? Probable cause refers to having a reasonable basis for an ICE agent to stop and question you. It serves as a safeguard against warrantless arrests under the Fourth Amendment. Keep in mind, if you run, this can be seen as probable cause, which may lead to your arrest.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. It is important you tell the ICE officer:
“I do not wish to speak to you, answer your questions, sign or give you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. I choose to exercise my right to remain silent.”
By making this statement, you are invoking your rights, which could be upheld in court. If you do not clearly state your intention to remain silent, the officer may respond unfavorably.
DO NOT LIE.
DO NOT PRESENT FALSE DOCUMENTS.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING.
If ICE has a warrant for your arrest, check to see if it’s valid. For a warrant to be valid it must (example at the end of the section):
- Be signed by a judge
- Be issued by a court
- Have the correct date, home address, and spelling of the individual
If it’s valid, allow the officer to arrest you. Continue to remain silent. Do not present any false documents. Do not lie.
ICE should only detain you if they have a warrant for your arrest that is valid, however, they do not always follow this protocol. Unfortunately, they have detained individuals in the past without a warrant.
You have the right to speak with an attorney before answering any questions or signing any documents.
We recommend you use the following statement when speaking to an officer:
“I choose to exercise my constitutional rights. I request to speak with a lawyer before answering any questions.”
CONTINUE TO REMAIN SILENT.
DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING.
DO NOT LIE.
DO NOT PRESENT FALSE DOCUMENTS.
If ICE comes to your house.
ICE CANNOT legally enter your house without a warrant. If officers are at your door, ask them to pass the warrant under the door for you to review. An arrest warrant or an administrative warrant of removal is not enough for officers to enter your home, they must have a valid judicial search warrant for a specific address or area.
The warrant must be signed by a judge, issued by a court, have the correct date, home address, and spelling of the individual. If the warrant does not include any of these elements or if there is a misspelling of a name or home address, the warrant is NOT VALID.
We recommend you use the following statement when speaking to an officer:
“I do not give you permission to enter my home unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge with my name on it that you slide under the door.”
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
It is important you tell the ICE officer:
“I do not wish to speak to you, answer your questions, sign or give you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. I choose to exercise my right to remain silent.”
By making this statement, you are invoking your rights, which could be upheld in court. If you do not clearly state your intention to remain silent, the officer may respond unfavorably.
DO NOT LIE.
DO NOT PRESENT ANY FALSE DOCUMENTS.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING.
REMEMBER, for a warrant to be valid it must (example at the end of the section):
- Be signed by a judge
- Be issued by a court
- Have the correct date, home address, and spelling of the individual
If it’s valid. DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING. Invoke your right to remain silent by saying:
“I do not wish to speak to you, answer your questions, sign or give you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. I choose to exercise my right to remain silent.”
Exit your house and allow the officers to detain you. We recommend you exit your house instead of letting the officers enter your home. If an officer enters your home, they will detain anyone who is undocumented. If you exit your house they have no further reason to enter your house.
You have the right to speak with an attorney before answering questions or signing documents. After being detained, if they continue to ask you questions, we recommend you say the following to the officer:
“I choose to exercise my constitutional rights. I request to speak with a lawyer before answering any questions.”
DO NOT PRESENT ANY FALSE DOCUMENTS
What does a judicial warrant look like?
Judicial Warrant
Administrative Warrant
Important Legal Information to know:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
HACES Know Your Rights Card
This Know Your Rights card is small enough to carry in your wallet. If you encounter ICE, you can verbally state the information on this card or hand this card to an ICE officer.
HACES Tarjeta Conozca sus Derechos
Esta tarjeta Conozca sus derechos es lo suficientemente pequeña como para llevarla en la cartera. Si se encuentra con el ICE, puede indicar verbalmente la información de esta tarjeta o entregarla a un agente del ICE.
Prepare | Prepárate
English
Every family should have an emergency plan, regardless of immigration status.
How can you prepare?
- Choose an emergency contact and memorize their phone number
- Memorize your immigration number otherwise known as USCIS # or A# (if you have one) and share it with your emergency contact
- Create an Emergency Binder and let your emergency contact know where they can find it. Your Emergency Binder should include: State ID, Driver’s License, Passport, Social Security Card or ITIN, Birth Certificates, Immigration Documents (A# or USCIS #, Work Permit, Visa, Legal Permanent Residence Card), Documents Submitted to Immigration (anything part of your existing case), Documents of Civil Complaints, Rental Agreements, Mortgage Information, Marriage / Divorce Certificates, Short-Term Guardianship (if applicable), Legal Custody Documents, Power of Attorney, Medical Information (Medications, Conditions, Immunization Records), School Information, Restriction Orders, Police Documents, Criminal Records, and Emergency Family Plan.
- Fill out the Emergency Family Plan found below this section. This packet includes family information, important documents, emergency contacts, a list of people who will help you, and if needed, establish a short-term guardianship
- Give your child’s school or day care the emergency contact name, phone number, and authorization to pick up your child
- Protect your assets. Create a trust where you assign a power of attorney
- Carry important documents: State ID or Driver’s License (issued in the United States), City Key (if Chicago resident), Legal Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), Know Your Rights card, Telephone numbers of an immigration lawyer, advocate, or non-profit legal service.
Emergency Family Plan
Updated as of March 10, 2025.
Download the Emergency Family Plan.
Every family should have an emergency plan, regardless of immigration status. This packet helps you create your family’s emergency plan. Included are templates to organize your family information, important documents, emergency contacts, list of the people who will help you, and, if needed, establish a short-term guardianship.
El Plan Familiar de Emergencia
Actualizado el 10 de marzo de 2025.
Descargue el Plan Familiar de Emergencia.
Toda familia debe tener un plan de emergencia, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. Este paquete le ayuda a crear el plan de emergencia de su familia. Se incluyen plantillas para organizar la información de su familia, documentos importantes, contactos de emergencia, una lista de las personas que le ayudarán y, si es necesario, establecer una tutela a corto plazo.
Take Action | Toma Acción
If there is an EMERGENCY call ICIRR at:
En caso de EMERGENCIA, llame al ICIRR:
En caso de EMERGENCIA, llame al ICIRR:
1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY
(1-855-435-7693)
English/Spanish/Korean/Polish
How can you protect yourself and protect your loved ones?
- Ask to see a warrant from ICE. Make sure it’s valid
- Write down the names of officers and if possible their badge number
- Take note of precisely what is happening. If possible, record the interaction
At home
- Invoke your rights to remain silent, not sign anything, and speak to a lawyer
- If your loved one is detained, ask where they will be taken. Click on the button below to locate someone in ICE detention
At school
- Avoid sharing or asking about the immigration status of students and their families
- Undocumented students from K-12 have a constitutional right to education
- Are you on campus? Look for or create opportunities for advocacy
At hospitals
- Do not ask patients for immigration status
- Do not put immigration status on any documents
- Regardless of immigration status, you have the right to medical care
At work
Employers
- Employers are not required to release employees to ICE custody
- Display Private-Employee Only signs to distinguish between public/private spaces
- Create an ICE employee safety protocol
- Keep record of all I-9s in the event of an I-9 audit
Employees
- Do not run, invoke your right to remain silent
- Do not lie and do not present false documents
- Check in with your employer’s ICE safety protocol
- Know Your Rights
Video Hub | Los Videos Mas Recientes
Watch our most recent Know Your Rights information sessions. Information is rapidly changing. Please note the date listed below the video.
Vea nuestras sesiones informativas más recientes Conozca sus derechos.
This information is current as of February 3, 2025. Updates have occurred since then.
Esta información es válida a partir del 3 de febrero de 2025. Actualizaciones han occurido desde entonces.
This information is current as of December 10, 2024. Updates have occurred since then.
Esta información es válida a partir del 10 de diciembre de 2024. Actualizaciones han occurido desde entonces.