All individuals living in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, have basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. If you are an unauthorized immigrant living in the United States, you must be aware of these rights to avoid being taken advantage of by ICE officials.
You Do Not Have to Open Your Door
If you are paid an unwarranted visit by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it’s important to understand that you are not always required to open your door. The only situation requiring you to open your door to these agents is if they possess a valid search warrant signed by a judge.
An ICE deportation warrant is NOT the same as a search warrant. If this is the only warrant they have, they cannot legally come inside your home unless you give them a verbal agreement.
Don’t always believe what they tell you. If the agents are informing you that they have a search warrant, instruct them to slip the document through your mail slot, under the door, or have them hold it up to a window.
You do not have to let ICE inside if the warrant presented is missing both:
Your correct name and address
A judge’s signature
You Have the Right to Remain Silent
While you may be required to follow certain requests from ICE agents, you do not have to answer any of their questions.
If you are asked questions about your place of birth or how you entered the United States, you have the right to remain silent.
You can show the officer a rights card that will inform them of your choice to remain silent.
Never show false documents.
Never lie to the officers.
You have the right to refuse to show identity documents that state which country you are from.
You Have the Right to Speak With an Attorney
If you are detained, you have the right to speak with an attorney immediately.
If you do not have your own lawyer, you may still inform the immigration officers that you wish to speak with one.
You may refuse to sign all documents until you have spoken with an attorney.
If you do sign something before discussing your situation with an experienced immigration law attorney, be sure you know exactly what the documents are stating.
At Maney | Gordon | Zeller, our team of trusted immigration law attorneys has been helping undocumented immigrants pursue their dreams for over 40 years. We understand the ways that ICE officials attempt to strip individuals of their rights, and we will fight to protect your rights in every way that we can.
For more information about how we can help protect what’s yours, contact us today (800) 708-4399. We offer free consultations to ensure that those who need representation are able to receive it.
