Know your rights: what to do if immigration agents come to your door

Everyone in the United States has rights under the Constitution, whatever their immigration status. Knowing them ahead of time makes a frightening moment easier to handle calmly. This guide covers what to do if immigration agents come to your home. It is general information, not advice about your case.

You do not have to open the door

Talk through the closed door, and ask who is there and why. Agents may enter your home without your permission only if they have a warrant signed by a judge. A warrant signed by an immigration officer, often on Form I-200 or I-205, does not by itself allow them to come in. Ask them to slide the warrant under the door or hold it up to a window, and check for a judge's signature, the name of a court and your correct address.

• Stay calm, and keep the door closed.

• You have the right to remain silent. You can say: I choose to remain silent.

• If agents come in without a judge's warrant, say clearly: I do not consent to this search. Do not physically resist.

• Do not lie, and do not show false documents.

• Do not sign anything before you talk with a lawyer.

• Write down names, badge numbers and what happened as soon as you can.

Make a plan before you need one

Memorize the phone number of a lawyer or a trusted organization. Keep important papers, such as passports, birth certificates and immigration documents, together in a safe place that someone you trust can reach. If you have children, decide who will care for them if you cannot, and talk with us about putting that plan in writing.

If someone in your family has been detained, call us at (712) 212-3242 right away. Be careful of anyone who asks for money and promises a release: only an immigration judge or immigration officials can decide that, and only a licensed attorney or an accredited representative should advise you.