Syllabus 3

If you have 5 minutes

Under the Constitution, you have rights - regardless of your immigration status. Print your own cards to hand to officers at the door to assert your rights. Available in 17 languages. En español.

https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas

• Protesting Know Your Rights & Reduce Your Risks. Here’s a 1-page quick reference guide. (In English and en español.) Here are the magic words to memorize:

  • “Am I being detained, or am I free to go?” / “¿Estoy siendo detenido, official, o estoy libre para irme?”

  • “I do not consent to this search.”/ “Yo no consiento a um registro.”

  • “I want to remain silent.” / “Yo quiero permanecer callado.”

  • “I want a lawyer.” / “Yo quiero un abogado.”

    • https://static1.squarespace.com/static/673640e4163ebc6b4cc86b8a/t/67a501bb3cf19757da0b145d/1738867133061/CLDC+Know+Your+Rights+PRINT.pdf

If you want to learn more:

• This webinar in English and en español (with an accompanying quick-reference slide deck) runs you through what to do if ICE or the cops come knocking, what your rights are as an immigrant at protests, and your rights along the spectrum of police encounters. (En español)

  • https://cldc.org/resources-for-immigrants-and-allies/

  • Slide deck

If you’re protesting as an immigrant:

• If you’re an immigrant, you have First Amendment rights, but you are also subject to additional risks. Here are considerations when protesting as an immigrant:

  https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2.-2025-Protest-Know-Your-Rights_Final.pdf

• If you encounter ICE

  https://immigrantjustice.org/for-immigrants/know-your-rights/ice-encounter/

Navigating immigrant aid for nonprofits

• At different intervention points, the legal risk to your organization for providing aid to immigrants will vary. Here’s a guide to assess risk and advice about how to frame your work to comply with the law.  

  • https://www.nlg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BW-Version-Final-Immigrant-Advocacy-KYR.pdf

Bystander response

• A lot of ICE response, raid reporting, and preemptive defense of undocumented immigrants is happening on the local level. Seek out your people; find your local guide! 

  • Here’s an example of a guide created for DC.

    • https://migrant-resources-dmv.my.canva.site/english

  • If you see ICE, here’s what to report. Spread information, not panic!  (En español)

    • English

    • Spanish (En español)

Trump has sent down Executive Orders setting up ideological and national-origin based targeting of foreign nationals. Here are key tips for reducing your risk, including navigating international travel and reducing your digital footprint.

• https://www.instagram.com/p/DGBCGbVAWeg/

In the present environment, uncertainty runs high about the impact of executive orders on foreign nationals. Here is an urgent travel advisory issued 3/19/25. The Know Your Rights resources linked at the bottom cover international travel, and the resource provides a list of organizations and attorneys for referral.

• https://muslimadvocates.org/2025/03/updated-urgent-travel-advisory/

If your organization provides support to immigrants, there are steps that you can take to insulate yourself from legal risk. The big one: status agnosticism, or providing aid regardless of immigration status.

Here’s a guide to organizational legal risks at different points of intervention:

https://www.nlg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BW-Version-Final-Immigrant-Advocacy-KYR.pdf