The United States is full of Immigrants; America is supposed to be the big melting pot of the world. At one time this country was known to be one that stands up for people and embraces immigrants. In fact, without immigrants this country would come to a standstill.
Immigrants hold the jobs that most people do not want to work like working on farms or within factories. This is because you can pay undocumented people less than someone who is American and they would have to pay them a “live able” wage of all of maybe 7 dollars an hour according to the federal minimum wage. But as it’s likely known this is not enough to survive on.
Undocumented people make up such a large workforce in this country and they are under attack by the current administration. Undocumented, people with legal status and citizen are being deported (El Salvator) incarnated in detention centers across the country. These are just the cases being covered by social media and the news. But what about all the people that we don’t know about.
This is a very scary time for undocumented people and immigrants, even if you are here legally. Below I have attached a copy of The Rights that everyone has when being questioned by ICE. Stay Safe out there and spread this to people that this will help.
Make a Safety Plan with loved ones
- Identify your emergency contacts and memorize their phone numbers.
- Provide your child’s school or day care with an emergency contact to pick up your child.
- Provide authorization in writing for your emergency contact to make medical and legal decisions for your child.
- Tell your loved ones that if you are detained by ICE, they can try to use ICE’s online detainee locator to find you: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search
- Read more about guardianship considerations for immigrants in Illinois (PDF). Read more about guardianship considerations for immigrants in Indiana (PDF).
Defend your Rights
All persons in the United States have constitutional protections, including the right to remain silent when questioned or arrested by immigration officers. Being stopped by immigration officers or other law enforcement can be frightening, but it’s important to stay calm. During any encounter with law enforcement, it’s important to do the following:
- Stay calm and don’t run, argue, resist, or fight the officer, even if you believe your rights are being violated or you are being treated unfairly. Keep your hands where police can see them, and tell them if you need to reach into a glove compartment or for a wallet to show your papers.
- Don’t lie about your status or provide false documents.
- If you are pulled over in a traffic stop: Ask if the officer is from the police department or immigration. Immigration officers often identify themselves as “police,” but they are not police. Ask if they are from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP). If they are immigration officers, follow these guidelines about what information to provide.
- If you are a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration status: Show your passport, legal permanent resident card, work permit, or other documentation of your status. If you are over the age of 18, you should carry your papers with you at all times.
- If you are undocumented: You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with the police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.
- If an officer knocks on your door: Do not open the door. Teach your children not to open the door. Officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter your home. ICE “warrants” are not signed by judges; they are ICE forms signed by ICE officers and they do not grant authority to enter a home without consent of the occupant(s).
ACLU: Know your Rights Immigration
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