Immigration Rights & Resources

If you witness ICE activity, it is important to act responsibly to support those affected. Here’s what to do:

• Call the Rapid Response Hotline: Dial 1-844-864-8341 (24/7, bilingual) to report the incident. Provide as much detail as possible, including the location, time, description of vehicles and agents, and what you witnessed.

• Document the Activity: If it is safe, record or photograph the incident to ensure accountability. Do not interfere with ICE operations.

• Avoid Sharing Information Publicly: Instead of posting on social media, report directly to the hotline or a trusted immigrant advocacy organization. This prevents spreading misinformation or putting individuals at further risk.

• Offer Support Discreetly: Notify local legal aid organizations or community groups so they can mobilize resources to assist those impacted.

• If you are stopped by ICE or law enforcement, you have the following rights:

  • You Have the Right to Remain Silent: You are not required to answer questions about your immigration status, citizenship, or how you entered the U.S. Simply say, “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”

  • You Do Not Have to Show ID: In most situations, you do not have to provide identification unless you are driving.

  • Refuse Searches Without a Warrant: You do not have to consent to a search of yourself, your belongings, or your vehicle without a valid warrant.

  • Request Legal Representation: If you are detained, you have the right to speak with a lawyer before answering any questions.

  • Carry a Know Your Rights Card: These cards explain your rights and can be handed to agents to avoid verbal communication.

No, ICE cannot legally enter your home without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

• If ICE comes to your door, ask them to slide the warrant under the door or hold it up to a window so you can examine it.

• Do not open the door unless they have a valid judicial warrant with your name and address on it.

• If they do not have a warrant, you can politely refuse entry and say, “I do not consent to your entry.”

• Judicial Warrant: Issued by a judge, a judicial warrant allows ICE to enter private spaces like your home or business. It will include:

  • A judge’s signature

  • Your full name

  • Your correct address

• Administrative Warrant: Issued by ICE itself, an administrative warrant (e.g., Form I-200 or I-205) does not authorize entry into private spaces. These warrants allow ICE to detain individuals but do not permit entry into homes or businesses without consent.

To verify if a warrant is valid:

• Look for a Judge’s Signature: Only a judicial warrant, signed by a judge, is valid for entry into private spaces.

• Check the Details: Ensure the warrant includes your full name and correct address.

• Confirm the Source: A valid judicial warrant will be issued by a court, not by ICE or DHS. Administrative warrants, which are often used by ICE, do not authorize entry without consent.

If the warrant does not meet these criteria, you are not required to allow entry or comply with the demands of ICE agents.

• Gather Information: Obtain the individual's full name, date of birth, and Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if available.

• Locate the Detainee: Use ICE's Online Detainee Locator System to find their detention facility. 

• Contact the Facility: Reach out to the detention center to learn about visitation rules and communication options.

• Seek Legal Assistance: Connect with nonprofit organizations that offer free or low-cost legal services, such as the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network.

• Report the Detention: Inform local immigrant rights groups or hotlines to mobilize support.

ICE is primarily targeting a broad range of individuals during enforcement operations, with an expanded focus compared to previous administrations. The current priorities include:

• Individuals with criminal histories, including those convicted of serious offenses such as murder, rape, and drug trafficking

• Recent border crossers and those who entered the United States illegally after November 1, 2020

• Undocumented immigrants, regardless of their criminal history. The administration considers all undocumented immigrants as potential targets for enforcement

• Individuals previously ordered deported but who remain in the country

• Collateral arrests, which include undocumented immigrants encountered during operations targeting others

ICE has been instructed to increase daily arrest targets significantly, aiming for between 1,200 and 1,500 arrests per day. This has led to an increase in arrests of individuals without criminal histories, with nearly half of recent arrests being classified as "non-criminal".

The agency has also been granted expanded authority to conduct enforcement operations in previously restricted "sensitive" areas such as schools, hospitals, and churches. Additionally, ICE is collaborating more closely with state and local law enforcement agencies and expanding military involvement in immigration enforcement efforts.

It's important to note that these enforcement priorities represent a significant shift from previous administrations, which had more narrowly defined target groups. The current approach reflects a broader interpretation of enforcement priorities, potentially affecting a larger portion of the immigrant population.

Sources:

• What is ICE and how are its priorities changing?

• ICE to conduct major immigration operations in three cities per week

• Statement from a DHS Spokesperson on Directives Expanding Law Enforcement and Ending the Abuse of Humanitarian Parole

• The New Trump Administration’s Immigration Enforcement Policy: What Employers Must Know

Yes, undocumented immigrants without criminal records are at significant risk of being detained by ICE. Recent data shows that a large proportion of ICE arrests involve individuals with no criminal history. In a single day in January 2025, nearly half of the 1,179 individuals arrested by ICE had no criminal background. This trend indicates that ICE is targeting a broad range of undocumented immigrants, regardless of their criminal history.

While ICE does prioritize individuals with criminal convictions, the current enforcement approach is much broader. The Trump administration has expanded ICE's focus to include:

1. Individuals with any criminal history, regardless of severity

2. Those charged with a criminal offense, even if not yet convicted

3. Anyone who has committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense

4. Individuals who have engaged in fraud or misrepresentation in official matters

5. Those who have abused public benefit programs

6. Individuals subject to a final order of removal

Learn more here: The End of Immigration Enforcement Priorities Under the Trump Administration

Yes, individuals with TPS are now at risk of detention and deportation. On January 29, 2025, the Trump administration revoked deportation protections for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans by overturning a previous decision that extended their TPS5. This change takes effect immediately, reverting the TPS expiration date for Venezuelans to April 2025. While the future of TPS holders from other countries wasn't explicitly clarified, this action suggests that TPS protections are being reevaluated and potentially revoked for other groups as well.

Learn more here: Trump administration revokes deportation protections for 600,000 Venezuelans

Yes, asylum seekers and refugees are at increased risk of being targeted by ICE. The Trump administration has expanded ICE's focus to include a broader range of individuals, regardless of their immigration status. This includes those who have entered the country seeking asylum or as refugees. The administration has also granted additional authorities to various federal agencies to arrest undocumented immigrants, which may include those in the asylum process or with refugee status.

Learn more: Trump administration launches nationwide immigration enforcement blitz

Yes, ICE can now detain people at locations previously considered "protected areas," including hospitals, schools, and churches.

On January 21, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of the policy that limited ICE agents' authority to apprehend undocumented individuals at or near these sensitive locations. This change allows immigration officials to enter educational institutions, medical facilities, and religious venues to carry out arrests.

Learn more: Trump administration strips schools, churches of immigration enforcement protections