“Like A Scene From A Gestapo Movie”: A Woman On A Work Visa Shared Her ICE Encounter At Target

Know Your Rights Resources:

If you encounter ICE agents, immigration attorneys, and civil rights organizations emphasize that everyone in the US has constitutional protections, regardless of immigration status. However, it’s important to understand that while you have these rights, ICE agents may not always respect them in practice.

Civil rights organizations have documented numerous cases where ICE agents have ignored constitutional protections, entered homes without proper warrants, or detained people despite their assertions of rights. Knowing your rights doesn’t guarantee ICE will follow the law — but it’s still crucial to understand what protections you’re legally entitled to, both for your own safety and for any potential legal recourse later.

Here are trusted resources to help you understand and exercise your rights:

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)

 • National “Know Your Rights” page: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights/

 • Video series in multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, Urdu, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian, Mandarin): https://www.aclumaine.org/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-video-series-interacting-immigration-agents/

 • Includes: 1) State-specific guides available through local ACLU chapters

Immigrant Defense Project

 • Interactive “Know Your Rights with ICE” tool: https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/know-your-rights-with-ice/

 • Includes: 1) Downloadable flyers in English and Spanish; 2) Information on ICE tactics and how agents may try to mislead people

 • Criminal-Immigration helpline: (212) 725-6422

National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

 • Resource library: https://www.nilc.org/resources/

 • Includes: 1) “How to Find a Loved One After a U.S. Immigration Arrest” guide; 2) Airport safety tips for immigrants; 3) Information on employment rights and public benefits

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

 • “Red Cards” to assert your rights: https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources/know-your-rights

 • Includes: 1) Downloadable signs and community materials; 2) Five key reminders about constitutional rights during ICE encounters

National Immigrant Justice Center

 • “Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE”: https://immigrantjustice.org/for-immigrants/know-your-rights/ice-encounter/

 • ICE online detainee locator: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search

 • Includes: 1) Emergency planning guides for families