California: Threats of Large Scale ICE Raids & Knowing Your Rights

Know your rights if ICE confronts you

Independent of your citizenship status, you have constitutional rights!

• Do NOT open your door. ICE can’t come into your home unless they have a signed search warrant or you let them in. If officers are at your door, ask them to pass the warrant under the door before you open it. An arrest warrant (or an administrative warrant of removal) is not enough to come inside you home. If ICE officers want to enter your home, they must have a valid judicial search warrant that says the officers have a right to enter or search that particular address or areas specified. If the agents don’t speak your language, ask for an interpreter.

• Check out the warrant. Look at the top and at the signature line to see if it was issued by a court and signed by a judge. Only a court/judge warrant grants ICE permission to enter your premises. One issued by DHS or ICE and signed by a DHS or ICE employee does not.

Example of order by a judge

Example of order by ICE

• Do NOT resist If ICE agents force their way in. Say “I do not consent to your entry,” but do not physically resist.

• Tell them you want to speak to a lawyer. ICE can use anything you say against you in your immigration case, so claim your right to remain silent! Say, "I want to speak to a lawyer and choose to remain silent."

• Do NOT sign. Be careful what you sign. ICE might ask you to sign forms agreeing to be deported without first seeing a judge.

• Afraid to go back? If you get arrested and there is a final order for your deportation, be sure to let agents know if you have a fear of returning to your home country.

• Find an attorney. If you get detained, don't give up hope! Get a trustworthy lawyer and explore all options to fight deportation.

• Report raids or checkpoints. (see Rapid Response numbers below)

• Document. If it’s possible, take photos, videos, and notes on exactly what happened. Write down badge numbers. Note if ICE interferes with your right to take photos or video.

• Download the ACLU’s Mobile Justice App and use it to document raids or report ICE actions.

Find a person in detention

• Use ICE's detainee locator or call the local ICE office.

Be prepared

Make sure your family knows:

• Your A number so they can find you if you get arrested;

• The phone number of a trusted resource for immigration legal advice; and

• Which friends and relatives can help with family obligations.

For information on what to do if ICE comes to your workplace, click here. 

For more Know Your Rights information click here. 

Northern California Local Rapid Response Hotlines

The following are hotline numbers for local rapid response networks. These numbers are meant for EMERGENCIES ONLY to report ICE activity and enforcement actions. 

• Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP)
  Region covered: Alameda County (510) 241-4011

• San Francisco Rapid Response Network
  Region covered: San Francisco City (415) 200-1548

• Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network
  Region covered: Santa Clara County (408) 290-1144

• Monterey County Rapid Response Network
  Region covered: Monterey County (831) 643-5225

• Santa Cruz County Rapid Response (YARR)
  Region covered: Santa Cruz County (831) 239-4289

• Marin Rapid Response Network
  Region covered: Marin County  (415) 991-4545

• North Bay Rapid Response Network
  Region covered: Sonoma & Napa Counties (707) 800-4544 

• San Mateo Rapid Response Network
  Region covered: San Mateo County (203) 666-4472

• Central Valley Rapid Response Network
  Region covered: Fresno County San Joaquin, Merced, and Kern Counties (559) 206-0151

• Sacramento Rapid Response
  Region covered: Sacramento County (916) 245-6773

• Services, Immigration Rights and Education Network (SIREN) Rapid Response Text Platform
  Region covered: Northern & Central California
  Community members: (201) 468-6088
  Allies: (918) 609-4480 

If law enforcement enters your home without consent or a warrant or is threatening or abusive, contact the ACLU of Northern California.