During the first three years of President Trump’s term in office, there has been a substantial increase in immigration activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Immigrant households in major cities throughout the United States have been preparing for the possibility of ICE raids after Trump announced there would be a massive deportation operation coming soon. If you are an undocumented immigrant, it is important to remember that you are still entitled to certain rights under the law.
If ICE conducts a raid of your household, you should do the following things:
- Use your right to remain silent. You can also print and keep a “Know Your Rights” card on yourself to give to officers who attempt to detain you. This card states you are exercising your right to remain silent and that you want to speak to an attorney.
- Don’t open your door. ICE must have a warrant to enter your home. Ask them to show you the warrant, but don’t open the door. Ask the agent to place the warrant against a window or slide it under the door so you can check to see if it is valid. If ICE doesn’t have a warrant, refuse entry into your home.
- If ICE forces their way into your home, do not resist. Remain silent and make sure you don’t sign any documents until you have talked to an attorney.
You should also prepare for a potential ICE raid by gathering all of your important documents and finding a safe place to keep them. You should let someone you trust know where these documents are located so that they can be collected if you are detained.
Our legal team sympathizes with the immigrant communities who continue to live in fear of deportation raids. We are here to use our knowledge of the law and extensive resources to help you defend your rights. If you have more questions about ICE raids or immigration law, get in touch with our legal team to discuss your situation.
Call (602) 353-7795 today to schedule your case evaluation with one of our lawyers at Kanu & Associates, P.C.