Derechos de Inmigrantes Bajo la Presidencia de Trump:
PREGUNTAS MAS FRECUENTES PARA
ESTUDIANTES, EDUCADORES & PROVEEDORES DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES
Durante su campaña, el Presidente-electo Donald Trump llamó a inmigrantes Mexicanos “criminales”
y prometió construir un muro fronterizo, rescindir las iniciativas DACA (Acción Diferida para los
Llegados en la Infancia) y DAPA (Acción Diferida para Padres de Ciudadanos Estadounidenses y
Residentes Permanentes Legales) de la administración de Obama, y “deportar en masa” a millones
de inmigrantes indocumentados. Muchas familias se sienten con miedo y confusión. A continuación
hay respuestas a preguntas comunes sobre lo que sabemos hasta este punto sobre lo que puede
significar la Presidencia Trump para los inmigrantes.
Yo soy indocumentado(a) / tengo familiares indocumentado(a)s. ¿Vamos a ser deportados inmediatamente? No.
No sabemos en este momento que plan de acción la administración de Trump va a tomar hacia las familias
indocumentadas. Individuos sin estatus legal que están presentes en los Estados Unidos tienen ciertos derechos legales
y constitucionales. Usted tiene el derecho a una audiencia judicial y a que un juez revise su caso. Ese proceso puede
tomar años en algunos casos, y usted puede permanecer en los Estados Unidos hasta que se haya tomado una decisión
final. Otras protecciones constitucionales previenen ciertas tácticas de aplicación de la ley, y pueden presentar una base
para desafiar tácticas demasiado agresivas de aplicación migratoria por el gobierno federal.
Tengo DACA. ¿Mi acción diferida se va terminar cuando Trump tome posesión en Enero? El nuevo Presidente
puede cancelar DACA si lo desea. En este momento, no sabemos si Trump va a cancelar la iniciativa de DACA
inmediatamente o cuando pueda ocurrir. Y aunque DACA se termine, si su presencia legal y permiso de trabajo van a
terminar de inmediato, dependerá de un anuncio del Presidente y como lo implementará el gobierno federal.
Yo tengo DACA. ¿El gobierno federal va a utilizar mi información para encontrarme y deportarme? El poder
deportar 700,000 beneficiarios de DACA tomará mucho tiempo y será costoso. Los beneficiarios de DACA también están
al fondo en la lista de prioridad para deportación del gobierno. Sin embargo, las acciones de Trump son difíciles de
pronosticar, así que las familias deben tomar precauciones hoy mismo y platicar sobre sus opciones legales con un
abogado de inmigración calificado. También habría un reto legal al uso de datos entregados bajo DACA para aplicar esta
medida.
¿Debería aplicar a DACA ahora? La respuesta depende de sus circunstancias, las cuales debe consultar con un
abogado de inmigración. Algunas consideraciones son su edad, si va a necesitar acción diferida o autorización de trabajo
urgentemente, y si su situación le permitiría esperar varios meses para ver lo que pasa con DACA. Es importante
considerar que al aplicar para DACA, daría su información personal al gobierno y lo puede poner en riesgo en caso de
que Trump rescinda DACA. También es importante notar que el proceso actual y tiempo de revisión indica que cualquier
solicitud entregada ahora no va a tener respuesta hasta después de que la administración de Trump tome control.
¿Debería renovar mi aplicación de DACA o pedir permiso de viaje (“Advance Parole”) para viajar como
beneficiario de DACA? Si su acción diferida esta por vencerse dentro de 150 días, debe solicitar su renovación ahora.
Si tiene razones humanitarias urgentes para viajar fuera de los Estados Unidos, puede pedir permiso para viajar al
solicitar “Advance Parole” con USCIS (Forma I-131). El gobierno ya tiene su información personal, así que no está
creando un nuevo riesgo al solicitar la renovación al menos que su situación haya cambiado de una manera en la que ya
no califique para DACA, por ejemplo, el tener una condena criminal. Si viaja con “Advance Parole,” asegúrese de
regresar antes del 20 de enero del 2017.
¿Qué va a pasar con DAPA / DACA Expandido (DACA 2014)? La implementación de estas iniciativas se han parado
debido a una demanda. MALDEF está vigorosamente defendiendo estos programas en la corte. Pero, el nuevo
Presidente puede rescindir estas iniciativas si así lo quiere, efectivamente haciendo irrelevante ese proceso de la corte.
Tengo una petición de inmigración pendiente. ¿Qué va a pasar con mi solicitud? Para solicitudes que no son de
DACA y están pendientes con USCIS, no hay razón para creer que esas solicitudes no van a ser procesadas
normalmente de acuerdo a las leyes actuales.
¿Cómo puedo averiguar si tengo otras opciones para evitar deportación? Busque asistencia de un abogado de
inmigración de alta reputación. Evite fraudes de notarios. Visite immigrationlawhelp.org para más información sobre
organizaciones sin fines de lucro que se enfocan en servicios legales.
Me han puesto en procedimientos de deportación. ¿Qué puedo hacer? Consulte con un abogado de inmigración
inmediatamente para planificar sus siguientes pasos. Usted tiene el derecho a una audiencia legal antes de que cualquier
decisión se tome acerca de si tiene que salir del país. También tiene derecho de apelación.
¿Me pueden quitar la ciudadanía si mis padres son indocumentados? No. La Constitución concede la ciudadanía a
toda persona nacida en los Estados Unidos a pesar del estatus migratorio de los padres. No hay suficiente apoyo para
enmendar la Constitución para remover la ciudadanía de nacimiento, y cualquier intento de enmienda a la Constitución
tomaría años y es probable que aplicara solamente a los nacidos después de adoptarse la enmienda.
¿Se va a terminar la colegiatura estatal / la admisión para estudiantes indocumentados de colegio? No. Las leyes
que proveen la colegiatura estatal / admisión para estudiantes fueron aprobadas por estados y no pueden ser cambiadas
por el Presidente.
¿Me debería preocupar al ir a la sala de emergencia de un hospital? No. Bajo la ley federal, su información personal
debe mantenerse privada por médicos y personal.
¿Todavía debería reportar crímenes a la policía? Sí. La mayor parte de los policías solamente están interesados en
investigar crímenes y no van a estar interesados en su estatus migratorio. Si usted es víctima de un crimen, puede ser
elegible para una visa que le dejaría permanecer en los Estados Unidos. Consulte con un abogado de inmigración sobre
los datos de su caso.
Tengo planes de entregar solicitud para VAWA / U visa / T visa. ¿Debería esperarme? No. No hay razón para
atrasar la solicitud para esta ayuda. Esta establecido en la ley de los estados y no puede ser cambiado por una acción
del Presidente.
¿Qué puede hacer mi familia para prepararse para cualquier interacción con ICE, por ejemplo, si mi lugar de
trabajo es escogido por ICE para una redada? El centro “Immigrant Legal Resource Center” ha creado Tarjetas Rojas
que proveen información sobre como declarar sus derechos constitucionales durante una redada. Visite ilrc.org/red-cards
para más detalles.
Mi familia envía dinero a familiares en México (u otro país). ¿El gobierno puede confiscar ese dinero? No. Las
compañías que transfieren dinero entre familiares de los Estados Unidos a México (u otro país) no piden información de
estatus migratorio de sus clientes. Aun si las compañías pudieran distinguir entre inmigrantes legales e indocumentados
en su clientela, la confiscación de sus fondos por razones de origen de nacimiento o estatus migratorio sería
inconstitucional y sería desafiado inmediatamente en la corte.
Soy un inmigrante Latino. ¿Me tiene odio la mitad de las personas en Estados Unidos? No. Una encuesta en el
2016 nos muestra que un 79% de Americanos están a favor de proveer una manera por medio de la cual los inmigrantes
indocumentados se conviertan en ciudadanos estadounidenses o residentes legales.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
333 South Beaudry Avenue, 24th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90017
Telephone: (213) 241-7000 │ Fax: (213) 241-8442
STEVEN ZIMMER, PRESIDENT
MONICA GARCIA
DR. GEORGE J. MCKENNA III
MÓNICA RATLIFF
DR. REF RODRIGUEZ
SCOTT M. SCHMERELSON
DR. RICHARD A. VLADOVIC
MICHELLE KING
Superintendent of Schools
December 9, 2016
RE:
QUESTIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION
Dear L.A. Unified Family,
One of the top priorities of the Los Angeles Unified School District (L.A. Unified) is to create safe spaces for
learning, where all students – regardless of immigration status, religion, disability, nationality, race, ethnicity,
gender, or sexual orientation – are respected and have access to a quality education.
Below are answers to questions many have raised concerning immigration status and freedom from
discrimination and harassment.
Immigration Status
Question 1: Are public K-12 schools in the United States required to provide a free public education to
all students, regardless of immigration status?
Answer 1:
Yes. All children in the United States have a Constitutional right to equal access to a free public
education regardless of their immigration status or that of their parents. That right was confirmed
in the United States Supreme Court case Plyer v. Doe. Discrimination is also prohibited by federal
laws, including Titles IV, VI, and IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Question 2: Does L.A. Unified ever ask for the immigration status of a student or family member?
Answer 2:
No. L.A. Unified does not ask for the immigration status of a student or family member when
enrolling or while enrolled. This includes applications for transportation, free/reduced-price
meals, academic programs, extracurricular activities, and all other services.
Question 3: Does L.A. Unified ever share a student’s immigration status or confidential student records
information with federal immigration officials?
Answer 3:
L.A. Unified does not collect a student’s immigration status and information (unless a student or
parent informs the District that he or she is enrolling under a foreign student or business visa).
Therefore, L.A. Unified would not have this information to provide to federal immigration
officials. If L.A. Unified inadvertently becomes aware of a student’s status, that information is not
retained.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) generally prohibits school districts
from providing third parties with student education records. However, there may be exceptional
circumstances under which the District could be required to provide pupil records information to
federal immigration officials, including the following: 1) if there is a valid subpoena, warrant, or
court order; and 2) if there are emergency circumstances, such as a confirmed danger to public
safety.
1
Question 4: Does the Los Angeles School Police Department (LASPD) play a role in federal immigration
investigations?
Answer 4:
The LASPD’s primary mission is to promote a safe learning environment at schools. Members of
the LASPD do not inquire about immigration status. Additionally, the LASPD does not interact
with immigration officials, unless there is an emergency situation concerning the immediate
safety of students or employees.
Question 5: How may the 2016 presidential election impact family members who do not have lawful
immigration status?
Answer 5:
United States immigration laws and policies are formed by acts of Congress and/or Executive
Orders of the president. No changes in law or policy are expected before the next Congress meets
on January 3, 2017, or before the next president is sworn in on January 20, 2017. It is uncertain at
this time whether there will be changes after January 2017. Regardless of any changes that may
be made or proposed, L.A. Unified will continue to advocate for the constitutional right of all
students to receive a public education.
Question 6: Can federal immigration officials come onto L.A. Unified campuses?
Answer 6:
Federal immigration officials have a current policy restricting enforcement actions at “sensitive
locations,” including schools, hospitals, and institutions of worship. However, as with other law
enforcement agencies, federal immigration officials may come onto campuses under exceptional
circumstances, such as immediate public safety issues, or when there is a valid search warrant,
subpoena, or court order.
Question 7: What could happen if I am a recipient of DACA?
Answer 7:
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy implemented under the Obama
Administration in June 2012. The new presidential administration may choose to keep the policy
as is, modify the policy, or remove the policy altogether. Information about DACA can be found
on the National Immigration Law Center webpage at https://www.nilc.org/issues/daca/.
Question 8: What resources are available to help students and families who are newcomers to the
country and are seeking to enroll in the District?
Answer 8:
The District’s School Enrollment Placement and Assessment (S.E.P.A.) Center connects students
and families with resources to support academic, social and emotional success. The S.E.P.A.
Center also provides referrals to other social services and legal assistance programs that are not
affiliated with the District, but are available at the discretion of families.
The main S.E.P.A. Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 1339
Angelina St., Los Angeles, and can be contacted at (213) 482-3954. In addition, at each local
district office, the District has opened temporary extended support sites that provide similar
resources to the S.E.P.A. Center. To find an extended support site near you, or to access
resources, please visit the District’s homepage at achieve.lausd.net.
2
Question 9: What should I do if I have more questions about immigration laws and procedures?
Answer 9:
District personnel cannot give legal advice concerning specific immigration matters. However, it
is the District’s opinion that licensed immigration attorneys are the most likely to provide reliable
legal advice on immigration matters. For your protection, the District does not recommend
seeking legal advice from non-attorney “notarios.” A directory of free or low-cost nonprofit
immigration legal services providers can be found at https://www.immigrationlawhelp.org. Please
note that the advice provided by people found on this website do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of the District.
It is recommended that families with immigration questions contact an immigration legal services
provider as soon as possible, because it is anticipated that such providers will become very busy
in the months ahead.
For additional questions regarding enrollment or access to resources, please contact the S.E.P.A.
Center at (213) 482-3954.
Freedom from Discrimination and Harassment
Question 10: What is L.A. Unified’s policy on discrimination and harassment?
Answer 10: The District is committed to educational excellence, equity and access. Our policies prohibit
discrimination against or harassment of our students, families or employees on the basis of actual
or perceived religion, disability, nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other
protected classes.
To learn more about the District’s nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Educational Equity
Compliance Office website at http://achieve.lausd.net/eeco.
Question 11: What should I do if I believe my child or I have been the victim of discrimination or
harassment?
Answer 11: The District takes allegations of discrimination and/or harassment very seriously. Please
immediately report the behavior to a school leader, supervisor, office of the Superintendent, or
your local law enforcement agency. For information about school-based discrimination, please
contact the Educational Equity Compliance Office at (213) 241-7682 or visit their website at
http://achieve.lausd.net/eeco.
If you are the victim of a crime, or need medical attention, do not hesitate to get help from law
enforcement or medical professionals.
For updated information, please visit the District’s homepage at achieve.lausd.net.
Sincerely,
Michelle King
Superintendent
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Free and Low-cost Legal & Support Services in Los Angeles
Servicios de Apoyo y Legales Gratuitos y de Bajo Costo en Los Angeles
As of 12/2016
Legal Services / Servicos Legales
Please research the location before making an appointment. Investigue la
organización antes de hacer una cita.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
1313 W 8th St #200, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 977-9500
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights
Bet Tzedek Legal Services
3250 Wilshire Blvd #1300, Los Angeles, CA 90010
(323) 939-0506
www.bettzedek.org/
Esperanza Immigrant Rights
1530 James M Wood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 251- 3505
http://www.esperanza-la.org/
CARECEN–the Central American Resource Center*
http://www.carecen-la.org/
2845 W. Seventh St., Los Angeles, CA. 90005
(213)385-7800
Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic
Casassa 101, 919 Albany St., Los Angeles CA 90017
213-736-8136
http://www.lls.edu/academics/clinicsexperientiallearning/loyolaimmigrantj
usticeclinic/
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
http://www.advancingjusticela.org/
1145 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 977-7500
Immigration Center for Women and Children
www.icwclaw.org
(213) 614-1165
634 Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90014
KIND–Kids In Need of Defense
https://supportkind.org/
350 South Grand Ave, 32nd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90071
Tel: 213 892 2026
Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)*
www.chirla.org
2533 West 3rd Street, Suite 101 | Los Angeles, California 90057
Toll free 1-888-6CHIRLA, (213) 353 1333
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
https://lafla.org/
1102 Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019 323-801-7991
5228 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90022 213-640-3883
7000 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90003 213-640-3950
Pride Legal- Network of Independent Attorneys
http://pridelegal.com/
888-789-7743
Pride Legal- Network of Independent Attorneys
http://pridelegal.com/
888-789-7743
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Free and Low-cost Legal & Support Services in Los Angeles
Servicios de Apoyo y Legales Gratuitos y de Bajo Costo en Los Angeles
As of 12/2016
Community Based Organizations
Organizaciones Comunitarias
Health Care
Cuidado de Salud
Immigrant Youth Coalition
http://theiyc.org/
AltaMed
Patient Questions:
Toll free (877) 462-2582
Locations in Los Angeles County:
http://www.altamed.org/contact_altamed/los_angeles_county_locations
Los Angeles LGBT Center
https://lalgbtcenter.org/
1625 N. Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
CARECEN–the Central American Resource Center*
http://www.carecen-la.org/
2845 W. Seventh St., Los Angeles, CA. 90005
(213)385-7800
Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)*
www.chirla.org
2533 West 3rd Street, Suite 101 | Los Angeles, California 90057
Toll free 1-888-6CHIRLA, (213) 353 1333
Public Counsel*
610 S Ardmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 385-2977
www.publiccounsel.org/
California Health Advocates
2 Executive Circle, Suite 175 Irvine, CA 92614
714-550-7008
Health Access
http://www.health-access.org/
121 West Lexington Drive, Suite 246 Glendale, CA 91203
818-480-3262
Health for All
519 E. Broadway Blvd. Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 409-3020
http://all4health.org
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Planned Parenthood’s Guide to Getting Active!
1.
Find out who represents you



2.
Go to http://whoismyrepresentative.com/ to see who represents you in Congress
Go to http://tinyurl.com/YourStateReps to see who represents you in Sacramento
Visit their office websites and sign up for email updates so you can learn about
legislation and events you can attend
Contact them and show support for Planned Parenthood
Hello, my name is ___ and I live in _____. I want to thank (Representative) for
being a Planned Parenthood supporter, and let them know that we need
women’s health champions fight against defunding Planned Parenthood. If
Congress cuts funding to Planned Parenthood, millions of people will be left
without access to birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings and other basic care.
I hope we can count on (Representative) to not only oppose any effort to defund
Planned Parenthood but to be a champion for the thousands of people in your
district who rely on Planned Parenthood. Thank you.
3.
Stay connected to Planned Parenthood on social media
/PlannedParenthoodLA
/PPActionCA
@PPLosAngeles
@PPActionCA
@pplapeeradvocates
@ppact
And text "PPACT" to 69866 to join the Planned Parenthood Action Mobile Network!
4.
Become part of an organization or cause
Whether it’s Planned Parenthood or a political organization or another cause you care
about, get involved – knock on doors for a candidate you support, register voters (and
make sure you’re registered to vote!) and attend rallies and marches and debates.
You can start NEXT WEEK! Come to one of these events:
The Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County (PPAP) is
an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization that serves as the
political arm of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA).
Immigrants’ Rights Under a Trump Presidency: FAQS FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS & SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS During his campaign, President-­elect Donald Trump called Mexican immigrants “criminals” and vowed to build a border wall, rescind the Obama Administration’s DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) initiatives, and “mass deport” millions of undocumented immigrants. Many families feel afraid and confused. Below are answers to common questions about what we know at this point about what a Trump presidency might mean for immigrants. I am undocumented / have undocumented family members. Will we be immediately deported? No. We do not know at this time what approach the Trump Administration will take toward undocumented families. Individuals without status who are present in the U.S. have certain legal and constitutional rights. You have a right to a hearing and to have a judge review your case. That process can take years in some cases, and you can remain in the U.S. until a final decision is made. Other constitutional protections prevent certain enforcement tactics, and may present a basis to challenge overly aggressive attempts at immigration enforcement by the federal government. I have DACA. Will my deferred action be terminated when Trump takes office in January? The new President may cancel DACA if he chooses. At this time, we do not know if Trump will immediately cancel the DACA initiative or when that might happen. Even if DACA is terminated, whether or not your lawful presence and work permit will cease right away depends on the announcement by the President and how it is implemented by the federal government. I have DACA. Will the federal government use my information to find and deport me? Deporting over 700,000 DACA recipients would be very time-­consuming and expensive. DACA recipients are also near the bottom of the government’s priority list for deportation. However, Trump’s actions are difficult to predict, so families should take precautions now by discussing other legal options with a qualified immigration lawyer. There would also certainly be a legal challenge to use of private data submitted under DACA for enforcement activity. Should I apply for DACA now? The answer depends on your personal circumstances, which you should discuss with an immigration lawyer. Some considerations are your age, whether you need deferred action or work authorization urgently, and whether your situation would allow you to wait several months to see what happens to DACA. It is important to consider that applying for DACA will give your personal information to the government and may put you at risk should Trump rescind DACA. It is also important to note that current processing and review times indicate that any application filed now would not result in an answer until after the Trump Administration takes office. Should I renew my DACA application or seek “Advance Parole” to travel as a DACA beneficiary? If your deferred action is set to expire within 150 days, you should apply to renew it now. If you have urgent humanitarian reasons to travel outside the U.S., you may seek permission to travel by seeking “Advance Parole” with USCIS (Form I-­131). The government already has your personal information, so you are not creating a new risk by applying for renewal unless your situation has changed in a way that you might not be eligible for DACA any more, for example, a criminal conviction. If you travel on “Advance Parole,” be sure to return before January 20, 2017. What will happen with DAPA / Expanded DACA (DACA 2014)? Implementation of these initiatives has been halted by a lawsuit. MALDEF is vigorously defending these programs in court. However, the new President can rescind these initiatives if he chooses, effectively making that court process moot. I have a pending immigration petition. What will happen with my application? For non-­DACA applications pending with USCIS, there is no reason to believe that those applications will stop being normally processed according to current laws. How can I find out if I have other options to avoid deportation? Seek assistance from a reputable immigration lawyer. Avoid notario scams. Visit immigrationlawhelp.org for more information about non-­profit legal service organizations by state. I’ve been placed in removal proceedings. What can I do? Talk to an immigration lawyer immediately to plan your next steps. You have the right to a hearing before any decision is made about whether you have to depart the country. You also have the right to an appeal. Can my citizenship be taken away if my parents are undocumented? No. The U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to all people born in the U.S. regardless of their parents’ immigration status. There is not enough support to amend the Constitution to remove birthright citizenship, and any attempt to amend the Constitution would take years and would likely apply only to those born after adoption of an amendment. Will in-­state tuition / admission for undocumented college students end? No. The laws that provide in-­
state tuition/admission for students are passed by states and cannot be changed by the President. Should I worry about going to the hospital emergency room? No. Under federal law, your personal information should be kept private by doctors and staff. Should I still report crime to the police? Yes. Most police officers are only interested in investigating crime and won't be interested in your immigration status. If you are a crime victim, you may be eligible for a visa that would allow you to stay in the U.S. Talk to an immigration lawyer about the facts of your case. I plan to file an application for VAWA / U visa/ T visa. Should I wait? No. There is no reason to delay filing for this relief. It is established in U.S. law and cannot be changed by the President acting alone. What can my family do to prepare for any interaction with ICE, for example, if my workplace is the target of an ICE raid? The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has created Red Cards that provide information about how to assert your constitutional rights during a raid. Visit ilrc.org/red-­cards for details. My family sends money to relatives in Mexico. Can the government confiscate that money? No. Companies that transfer money among relatives from the U.S. to Mexico do not track their clients’ immigration status. Even if companies could distinguish between legal and undocumented immigrants in their clientele, seizing funds based on national origin or immigration status would be unconstitutional and would be immediately challenged in court. I’m a Latino immigrant. Does half of the U.S. hate me? No. A 2016 poll shows 79% of Americans favor providing a way for undocumented immigrants to become U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER | WWW.NILC.ORG
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Everyone has certain basic rights,
no matter who is president
NOVEMBER 10, 2016
By now everyone knows that Donald Trump has been elected president of the United
States and will begin to serve his term in January 2017. No matter who is president,
everyone living in the U.S. has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Undocumented immigrants have these rights, too. It is important that we all assert and
protect our basic rights.
If you find you have to deal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or
other law enforcement officers at home, on the street, or anywhere else,
remember that you have the rights described in this factsheet. The
factsheet also provides suggestions for what you should do to assert your
rights.
 You have the right to remain silent. You may refuse to speak to
immigration officers.
 Don’t answer any questions. You may also say that you want to remain silent.
 Don’t say anything about where you
were born or how you entered the
U.S.
 Carry a know-your-rights card and
show it if an immigration officer stops
you.
 The card explains that you will
remain silent and that you wish to
speak with an attorney.
 Do not open your door.
 To be allowed to enter your home,
ICE must have a warrant signed by a
judge. Do not open your door unless
an ICE agent shows you a warrant.
LOS ANGELES (Headquarters)
3435 Wilshire Blvd. #108 – 62
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213 639-3900
213 639-3911 fax
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
If you are stopped by immigration or the police:
 Hand this card to the officer, and remain silent.
 The card explains that you are exercising your right
to refuse to answer any questions until you have
talked with a lawyer.
To: Immigration or Other Officer
Right now I am choosing to exercise my legal rights.
• I will remain silent, and I refuse to answer your
questions.
• If I am detained, I have the right to contact an attorney
immediately.
• I refuse to sign anything without advice from an
attorney.
Thank you.
WASHINGTON, DC
1121 14th Street, NW, Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20005
202 216-0261
202 216-0266 fax
NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER | WWW.NILC.ORG
(They almost never have one.) If an ICE agent wants to show you a warrant, they
can hold it against a window or slide it under the door. To be valid, the warrant
must have your correct name and address on it.
 You do not need to open the door to talk with an ICE agent. Once you open the
door, it is much harder to refuse to answer questions.
 You have the right to speak to a lawyer.
 You can simply say, “I need to speak to my attorney.”
 You may have your lawyer with you if ICE or other law enforcement questions
you.
 Before you sign anything, talk to a lawyer.
 ICE may try to get you to sign away your right to see a lawyer or a judge. Be sure
you understand what a document actually says before you sign it.
 Always carry with you any valid immigration document you have.
 For example, if you have a valid work permit or green card, be sure to have it with
you in case you need to show it for identification purposes.
 Do not carry papers from another country with you, such as a foreign passport.
Such papers could be used against you in the deportation process.
 If you are worried ICE will arrest you, let the officer know if you have children.
 If you are the parent or primary caregiver of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
who is under age 18, ICE may “exercise discretion” and let you go.
Because Donald Trump has made many anti-immigrant statements, ICE and other law
enforcement officers may think they can get away with violating your rights.
Sometimes ICE officers lie to people in order to get them to open their doors or sign
away their rights. If ICE detains you or you are concerned that they will conduct raids in
your area, this is what you can do:
 Create a safety plan.
 Memorize the phone number of a friend, family member, or attorney that you
can call if you are arrested.
 If you take care of children or other people, make a plan to have them taken care
of if you are detained.
 Keep important documents such as birth certificates and immigration documents
in a safe place where a friend or family member can access them if necessary.
 Make sure your loved ones know how to find you if you are detained by ICE. They
can use ICE’s online detainee locator (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/homePage.do)
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NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER | WWW.NILC.ORG
to find an adult who is in immigration custody. Or they can call the local ICE office
(https://www.ice.gov/contact/ero). Make sure they have your alien registration
number written down, if you have one.
 You can call the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) hotline number at
240-314-1500 or 1-800-898-7180 (toll-free) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get
information on your case’s status.
 Report and document raids and
arrests.
 If it is possible and safe for you to
do so, take photos and videos of
the raid or arrest. Also take notes
on what happened.
 Call United We Dream’s hotline
to report a raid: 1-844-363-1423.
 Send text messages to 877877.
 Find legal help.
 Nonprofit organizations that provide low-cost help can be found at
www.immigrationlawhelp.org.
 The immigration courts have a list of lawyers and organizations that provide free
legal services: www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers-map.
 At https://www.adminrelief.org there is a search engine into which you type a zip
code and then are given a list of all the legal services near you.
 You can search for an immigration lawyer using the American Immigration
Lawyers Association’s online directory, www.ailalawyer.com.
 The National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild also has an online
find-a-lawyer tool: https://www.nationalimmigrationproject.org/find.html.
 Learn more about your rights.
 Read NILC’s tips on how to prepare for a raid—in English or Spanish.*
 Read resources and booklets in English and Spanish by the American Friends
Service Committee and Casa de Maryland:
https://www.afsc.org/category/topic/know-your-rights.
* ENGLISH www.nilc.org/get-involved/community-education-resources/know-your-rights/immraidsprep_2007-0227/ or SPANISH www.nilc.org/get-involved/community-education-resources/know-yourrights/preppararedadas_2007-03-27/.
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