Stopped By ICE: Know Your Rights!
Stopped by Immigration: You Have Rights. Know Them. Use Them.
If you are stopped by Police Officers, Immigration Agents or other public authorities, you have rights. It does not matter if you entered the country by crossing the border in Mexico if you are an overstay, green card holder or citizen. As long as you are within the borders of the United States, you have rights. Know them. Use them.
What to do if you are questioned or detained by ICE:
- No ICE officer should stop anybody based on appearance alone; regardless of your ethnicity, the color of your skin, the way you dress or talk or the language you’re speaking. It’s the law.
- If an immigration officer asks for proof that you are a legal resident of the United States and wants to see some identification, you have the right to refuse to give them your ID. You can also refuse to answer any of their questions. Unless they have a warrant, you have no obligation to interact with them at all. You can ask “Am I arrested?” If the answer is no, you do not need to give them any information regarding your legal status in the U.S. Showing them ID is totally optional.
- If you are being interrogated do not give false information, and do not give them false documentation. You can be charged with identity theft if you show them forged documents, or someone else’s documents, even if you have legal status. Remember that everything you say or do can be used against you.
- If immigration officials (ICE) begin to knock on your door you have the right not to open the door. They only have the right to enter your home if they have a warrant from a judge.
- If you are arrested in an immigration detention center and you don’t want to return to your home country, you have the right to request a meeting with an immigration officer.
- Do not sign anything you don’t understand. You might be signing a voluntary deportation order.
- ome cases can be resolved with the help of an immigration attorney. The lawyer can request for a court date to meet with an immigration judge and help solve your case. You don’t have the right to an attorney provided by the state, but you do have the right to see your own attorney. Call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates, at 1-855-768-8845.
- Who should you call: Your family member to contact an immigration lawyer. When you enter an immigration center, they will assign you an A#, which is your alien number. Make sure you give your A# to the people you talk to on the outside helping with your case. If you have no one else to call you should call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at 1-855-768-8845.
If you are arrested by immigration officers:
- You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions. You can tell the officer that you want to speak with a lawyer before answering any questions. You may say, “I will remain silent until I speak to an attorney.” You do not have the right to an appointed free lawyer, but you do have the right to talk to a lawyer and to hire one on your own.
- You do not have to sign anything giving up your rights, and should never sign anything without reading it first and understanding the consequences of signing it. Signing a document without understanding it could result in you being deported before you see a lawyer or a judge.
- Talk to a lawyer before signing anything or making a decision about your situation. If possible, carry with you the name and telephone number of a lawyer who will take your calls. Immigration law is hard to understand. You may have options that immigration officers will not explain.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, you have the right to call your consulate or to have a law enforcement officer tell consulate officials of your arrest. Law enforcement officers must let your consulate visit or speak with you if consular officials decide to do so. Your consulate might be able to help you find a lawyer. To hire the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates, call 1-855-768-8845.
WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud.
You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home.
If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave.
You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Call the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Law Firm, Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.
Regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, you have constitutional rights. Exercise those rights.
WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Stay calm and be polite.
Don’t interfere with or obstruct the police.
Don’t lie or give false documents.
Be prepared in case you are arrested.
Remember the details of the encounter.
Call the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Law Firm, Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845, 24 hours a day/7 days a week if you feel your rights have been violated.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING
Remain calm. Don’t run, argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or the police are violating your rights.
Keep your hands where police can see them.
Ask if you can leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away. If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why. Don’t be afraid to ask why you are under arrest.
Like every American, you have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions. If you do not wish to speak to the officer, simply tell the officer that you want to remain silent.
You can refuse an officer’s request to search your body or your belongings. Police are permitted to “pat down” your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You should not physically resist, but you have the right to refuse consent for any further search. If you do consent, it can affect you later in court.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR
Stop the car in a safe place as quickly as possible.
Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way and place your hands on the wheel.
Upon request, show police your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance.
If an officer or immigration agent asks to look inside your car, you can refuse to consent to the search. But if police believe your car contains evidence of a crime, your car can be searched without your consent.
The driver and all passengers have the right to remain silent. If you are a passenger, you can ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, sit silently or calmly leave. Even if the officer says no, you have the right to remain silent.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE QUESTIONED ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS
You have the right to remain silent. You need not talk about your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents or any other officials. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, whether you are a U.S. citizen, or how you entered the country. Just stay quiet, as you talking could hurt your chances at potential immigration relief in the future.
If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you. If you are over 18, carry your immigration documents with you at all times. If you do not have immigration papers, say you want to remain silent.
Do not lie about your citizenship status or provide fake documents. If you claim that you are a United States Citizen and you are not, you can face serious criminal issues. Also, it is better to remain silent, than to provide fake documents.
Contact the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845 as soon as you can. Or, contact a family member and tell them to call Figeroux & Associates twenty-four hour emergency line (855) 768-8845.
WHAT TO DO IF THE POLICE OR IMMIGRATION AGENTS COME TO YOUR HOME
If the police or immigration agents come to your home, you can refuse them entry, unless they have a warrant.
Ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can inspect it. Yes, you can do this, because, you HAVE rights. A search warrant allows police to enter the address listed on the warrant, but officers can only search the areas and for the items listed. An arrest warrant allows police to enter the home of the person listed on the warrant if they believe the person is inside. A warrant of removal/deportation (ICE warrant) does not allow officers to enter a home without consent.
Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. If you choose to speak to the officers, step outside and close the door.
Contact the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768- 8845 as soon as you can. Or, contact a family member and tell them to call Figeroux & Associates twenty-four hour emergency line (855) 768-8845.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CONTACTED BY THE FBI
If an FBI agent comes to your home or workplace, you do not have to answer any questions. Immediately contact the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm, Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845. Or, contact a family member and tell them to call Figeroux & Associates twenty-four hour emergency line (855) 768-8845. Tell the agent you want to speak to your Figeroux & Associates lawyer first.
If you are asked to meet with FBI agents for an interview, you have the right to say you do not want to be interviewed. If you agree to an interview, do not go alone. Immediately contact the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm, Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845. Or, contact a family member and tell them to call Figeroux & Associates twenty-four hour emergency line (855) 768-8845. You do not have to answer any questions you feel uncomfortable answering, and can say that you will only answer questions on a specific topic.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ARRESTED
Do not resist arrest.
Remain silent and immediately contact the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm, Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845. Or, contact a family member and tell them to call Figeroux & Associates twenty-four hour emergency line (855) 768-8845.
Make sure you tell the officer that you wish to remain silent and that you want to contact your Figeroux & Associates lawyer.
Do not give any explanations or excuses.
Do not say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without your Figeroux & Associates lawyer.
You have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call your Figeroux & Associates lawyer. Use this call to contact the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm, Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845. Or, contact a family member and tell them to call Figeroux & Associates twenty-four hour emergency line (855) 768-8845.
Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family members and the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm, Figeroux & Associates: (855) 768-8845. Do not forget the Figeroux & Associates number: (855) 768-8845.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE TAKEN INTO IMMIGRATION (OR “ICE”) CUSTODY
You have the right to a lawyer. Tell ICE that you want to call your lawyer and call the Immigration Law & Deportation Defense Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845. Call 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
You have the right to contact your consulate or have an officer inform the consulate of your arrest.
Tell the ICE agent you wish to remain silent. Do not discuss your immigration status with anyone but your Figeroux & Associates lawyer.
Refuse to sign any documents, such as a voluntary departure or stipulated removal, without talking to your Figeroux & Associates lawyer.
Request and remember your immigration number (“A” number) so that you can provide it to your Figeroux & Associates deportation defense lawyer at Figeroux & Associates.
Every situation is different, so make sure that you think about every step you take. When in doubt, call the Immigration Law and Deportation Defense Firm of Figeroux & Associates at (855) 768-8845.