Know Your Rights RESOURCES & INFORMATION As the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) notes: Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. The Creating Freedom Movements team has gathered information & resources to help educate & empower our communities against increased surveillance and activity from Immigration & Customs Enforcement or related organizations (eg. Police, Department of Homeland Security). This guide is divided into two primary categories: Know Your Rights Resources & Information about Reporting ICE Sightings or Activity. For the most up-to-date information & resources, please check out our ‘Against ICE’ highlight on Instagram.
Links to ACLU Resources In Other Languages:
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Know Your Rights — Resources As the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) notes: Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. This section contains information and resources for individuals and communities who may interact with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE/La Migra) or related organizations.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Know Your Rights: Immigrants' Rights Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them:
Select a scenario: Law enforcement asks about my immigration status | I’ve been stopped by police or ICE | Police or ICE are at my home | I need a lawyer | I’ve been detained near the border by Border Patrol | I was stopped by police, ICE, or Border Patrol while in transit | I am detained while my immigration case is underway | I've been arrested and need to challenge a deportation order Additional Resources (ACLU) ● If you need more information, contact your local ACLU affiliate. ● ACLU VIDEO: What to do if stopped by police or ICE ● National Immigration Law Center: Know Your Rights ● A Toolkit for Organizations Responding to Mass Worksite Immigration Raids ● Immigrant Legal Resource Center ● American Immigration Lawyers Association
Other Know Your Rights Issues: ● Abortion Supporters and Helpers ● Know Your Digital Rights: Digital Discrimination in Hiring ● Health Care Providers ● Tribal Regalia
● What To Do When Encountering Questions from Law Enforcement ● What to Do If You Think You're on the No Fly List ● Enforcement at the Airport ● Dreamers (DACA) ● Stopped by Police ● 100 Mile Border Zone
National Immigration Law Center (NILC) This Know Your Rights resource provides general information1 on what to do if you are stopped, arrested, or detained by immigration or other law enforcement. Originally published in December 2015, republished Jan 15, 2025.(Download) Immigrants who are stopped, arrested, or detained by Immigration or other law enforcement have certain rights. But non-citizens without status must be especially careful when encountering law enforcement in the United States or at the border. If you encounter law enforcement at work, on the street, after a traffic stop, or at home, you usually have the same constitutional rights as U.S. citizens. You may have fewer rights when interacting with law enforcement agents at the border or an airport. Translations: Arabic | Chinese – Simplified | Chinese – Traditional | Haitian Creole | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese | Haga Clic para la Versión en Español. Also: Know Your Rights Under the U.S. Constitution – No Matter Who Is President.
Mijente: Know Your Rights to Defend Your Rights Even under the Trump regime, there are things we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones and prepare to better defend ourselves against raids. ICE may be acting with impunity, but people power will always be more powerful than the people in power. With rumors swirling of massive raids being planned and with the daily raids continuing, Mijente offers their 2017 “Know Your Rights to Defend Your Rights” handbook to help inform and prepare you and those you hold dear. 1
Disclaimer: This Know Your Rights resource provides general information. It is not legal advice. It is not tailored to your situation. Talk to an immigration lawyer for legal advice about your specific situation. Portions of this document were adapted with permission from NLG’s Know Your Rights! (2022) Pamphlet.
The “Know Your Rights to Defend Your Rights” handbook was developed with Puente Human Rights Movement in Arizona and the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights and authored by Mijente’s field director, Jacinta Gonzalez, who shares years of experience doing deportation defense in New Orleans. Mijente collaborated with Touch Touch Studios for the illustration. It compiles some of our best learning from red state veterans and reminds us that – the only secure community is an organized one. In the books, you’ll find information on what to do if ICE comes to your home, your work, or stops you on the street or while driving. There’s a checklist of helpful documents to compile and keep in a safe place ahead of time. And there’s sheets you can tear out to put on the inside and outside of your door in case an agent comes knocking.
Download Know Your Rights To Defend Your Rights Guide (English). Baja la libreta Conoce Tus Derechos Para Defender Tus Derechos (En Español). Mijente has also made the graphics available for non-commercial use so that they can be a tool in your local organizing, on your fliers, and in your presentations. Access the Graphics in English on Instagram (Download) Access the Graphics in Spanish on Instagram (Download) In addition to the new books, you may also want to check out some more resources: ● Starter Guide to Creating Community Defense Zones ● AFL-CIO Guide to Defense Against Workplace Raids: We Will Defend & Resist
New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) Know Your Rights (Curriculum) New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) has created an updated Know Your Rights presentation and facilitator guide as of December 2024. The presentation covers basic rights that community members have with different types of immigration and law enforcement agents (ICE, Border Patrol, and local police), and how to navigate different spaces and situations. These materials can be used
to host Know Your Rights presentations for your organization or community group. To request a Know Your Rights presentation by an NYIC staff member, please email KYR@nyic.org.
Available in English or Spanish. Other Languages: French, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese, Haitian Creole, Karen, Russian, Swahili, Urdu, Yoruba.
Know Your Rights Wallet Cards Know Your Rights Wallet Cards are available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese (Simplified), Arabic, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Swahili, and Urdu.
Know Your Rights: Roleplaying Exercise This resource provides sample dialogue to roleplay an interaction with ICE on the street. The goal is to help community members practice key phrases they can use when interacting with ICE to assert their rights. The NYIC can partner with community organizations to provide additional trainings to prepare for potential ICE interactions in the home and at a traffic stop. Available in English or Spanish. Please reach out to kyr@nyic.org to request a training.
Additional Resources: ● Federal Policy Guides ● Asylum Seeker Resources ○ What is Asylum ○ Crossing the Border with Canada ○ Change of Address ● New York State Community Toolkit and other Resources for NYers! ● Upcoming Events with NYIC!
Central Coast (805) Immigrant Rights Coalition For decades in the Central Coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties organizations have come together to protect and advance the human, civil and voting rights of immigrant youth, families and communities. The Central Coast Immigrant Rights Coalition was developed in 2014, with the support of the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), to serve as a sustainable and growing network for
ever-more effective long-term immigrant rights advocacy work at the local, regional, state and even national level. Durante décadas en los condados de la costa central de Ventura y Santa Bárbara, organizaciones se han unido para proteger y promover los derechos humanos, civiles y de voto de los jóvenes inmigrantes, las familias y las comunidades. La Coalición por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes de la Costa Central se desarrolló en 2014, con el apoyo del Centro de Políticas de Inmigrantes de California (CIPC), para servir como una red sosteniendo y creciendo el trabajo por la defensa de los derechos de los inmigrantes a largo plazo, un movimiento que cada vez es más eficaz al nivel local, regional, estatal e nacional. Mission: The Central Coast Immigrant Rights Coalition unites organizations to educate and organize immigrants and allies, and to advocate for humane and just policies that advance the rights of all immigrants. Misión: La Coalición por los Derechos de los Inmigrantes de la Costa Central une a las organizaciones para educar y organizar a los inmigrantes y aliados, y para abogar por políticas humanas y justas que promuevan los derechos de todos los inmigrantes. Vision: We envision a central coast region in which immigrants are self-empowered, celebrated, safe from the fear of criminalization, raids and deportation and are fully afforded the rights and responsibilities of civic sustainable policies that uphold the human rights of immigrants. Visión: Imaginamos una región de la costa central en la que los inmigrantes tienen poder propio, se celebran, están a salvo del temor a la criminalización, de las redadas y la deportación, y se les otorgan los derechos y responsabilidades de las políticas cívicas sostenibles que defienden los derechos humanos de los inmigrantes.
805 Immigrant Page — Legal Resources & Alerts Visit the 805 Immigrant page for legal resources and the latest alerts on I.C.E. and/or Customs & Border Protection Raids and Incidents. KYR Videos in Mixteco and Spanish Watch this video by Julissa Peña, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC), with advice on what to do if Immigration &
Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Border Patrol come to your home, stop you in your vehicle, or in a public place.
Rapid Response Network — 805 Undocumented Fund he Rapid Response Network is a community-led initiative that provides support and resources to T undocumented individuals and families facing immigration enforcement actions across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Our trained volunteers respond to reports of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity, offering legal observation, know-your-rights education, and immediate assistance to affected individuals. For real-time updates & critical information, text "ALERT" to (805) 870-8855 or register here: Online Alert Registration (Google Form).
What to Report to the Rapid Response Hotline: Please report any confirmed sightings of: ● ICE or Border Patrol activity in your neighborhood or workplace.
● Immigration raids or checkpoints. ● Detentions or arrests of undocumented individuals. ● Any suspicious activity that may involve immigration enforcement. To report ICE and CBP activity in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, call the Rapid Response Hotline at (805) 870-8855. Línea de Respuesta Rápida para reportar avistamientos de ICE o CBP en los condados de San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara y Ventura: (805) 870-8855.
NOTE: (805) 870-8855 is the Rapid Response Hotline number for the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Fiscally sponsored by the 805UndocuFund, The California UndocuFund Network is a statewide mutual aid network of organizations serving undocumented immigrants impacted by disaster, with a mission to transform systems, policies, and practices to meet the needs and guarantee the safety of California’s immigrant and undocumented communities impacted by disasters.
Reporting ICE Sightings & Activity Chismosas Sightings Map (Padlet) A Padlet sharing updates on where ICE (La Migra) has been sighted, in map form.
View the Map or Share on Instagram.
Juntos: How to Document & Report ICE Sightings Juntos is a community-led, Latine immigrant organization in South Philadelphia fighting for our human rights as workers, parents, youth, and immigrants. They shared this helpful one-pager graphic on Instagram about Documenting & Reporting ICE Sightings.
View the Images & IDs (English or Spanish) or Share on Instagram. Related: Sanctuary Defender — Tips for ICE Sightings at School.
Don’t Share Unverified Reports of ICE Sightings Triangle Radical Care is a North Carolina based organization who shared a helpful guide on vetting & assessing posts about ICE sightings, reminding us that “Rumors about ICE sightings spread like wildfire, often circulating online long after the initial post. Sharing false or outdated information is harmful to immigrant communities and can lead to panic and isolation. If you share information that might cause someone to skip getting groceries, pull their kids out of school, or miss out on a day’s pay, you should do your best to confirm that it’s legit.” Learn more about how to vet & assess posts about ICE sightings on Instagram or view the images & IDs here. And, we wanted to highlight this information from Triangle Radical Care’s original post: If you're in an area without a hotline able to verify a rumor or unvetted post, do your best to gather as much info as possible. Check it out yourself if you can do so safely and/or trace the post back to original source. If you decide it still makes sense to share incomplete info, please make sure to ALWAYS include the date and time of the sighting.
We encourage folks living in areas without existing ICE Watch infrastructure to organize to form their own verification teams that can respond promptly and safely. The more we build up autonomous, community-driven infrastructure to share reliable information and interrupt state-driven terror, the more equipped we become to keep each other safe. You can find more info on establishing a Rapid Response Hotline and ICE Watch Program with Defend and Recruit.
Rapid Response Network — 805 Undocumented Fund he Rapid Response Network is a community-led initiative that provides support and resources to T undocumented individuals and families facing immigration enforcement actions across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Our trained volunteers respond to reports of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity, offering legal observation, know-your-rights education, and immediate assistance to affected individuals. For real-time updates & critical information, text "ALERT" to (805) 870-8855 or register here: Online Alert Registration (Google Form).
What to Report to the Rapid Response Hotline: Please report any confirmed sightings of: ● ICE or Border Patrol activity in your neighborhood or workplace.
● Immigration raids or checkpoints. ● Detentions or arrests of undocumented individuals. ● Any suspicious activity that may involve immigration enforcement. To report ICE and CBP activity in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, call the Rapid Response Hotline at (805) 870-8855. Línea de Respuesta Rápida para reportar avistamientos de ICE o CBP en los condados de San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara y Ventura: (805) 870-8855.
Get Involved — Join Rapid Response Network! Join the Rapid Response Network and support undocumented individuals and families in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties. 805 Undocumented Fund is seeking dedicated volunteers for the following roles: ● Legal Observer: Monitor and document ICE activity to ensure transparency and accountability.
● Dispatcher: Answer hotline calls, document reports, and coordinate responses with the appropriate teams. Bilingual Spanish and English highly recommended. ● Accompaniment: Provide emotional and logistical support to individuals facing immigration-related challenges, such as attending court hearings or legal appointments. No prior experience is needed — comprehensive training will be provided to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to support our community effectively. Get involved and make a difference! Sign up today to be part of a compassionate, action-driven network committed to justice and safety.
NOTE: (805) 870-8855 is the Rapid Response Hotline number for the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. This hotline takes reports of ICE Sightings, Detention and/or Arrest, Immigration & Raid Checkpoints, and/or suspicious activity relating to Immigration law enforcement. Related: Next Steps for when someone has been arrested or detained by ICE. California Rapid Response Networks — updated Feb 2025. Last updated on February 18, 2025 *This list is updated on an ongoing basis. If you notice information that has changed or is out of date, please contact us at info@805undocufund.org Note: We do not list networks that are currently inactive - if you do not see a network for your area, then we have not been able to verify an active network in that area. If you have recently activated or reactivated a network, please contact us so we can add it. Please do not share rapid response network hotlines without verifying that they are active.
Bay Area Marin Rapid Response Network ● Hotline: 415-991-4545 Stand Together Contra Costa ● Hotline: 925-900-5151 ● Website: https://standtogethercontracosta.org/ San Francisco Rapid Response Network
● Hotline: 415-200-1548 ● Website: http://sfilen.org/ San Mateo County Rapid Response Network ● Hotline: 203-666-4472 Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network ● Hotline: 408-290-1144 ● Website: https://www.amigoscenter.com/rapid-respon Alameda County: Hotline coming soon. Current option for reporting immigration enforcement activity: Centro Legal de la Raza ● Operating Hours: 9AM - 5PM ● Phone Number: (510) 437-1554 ● Website: https://www.acilep.org/
Other Northern & Central California Centro del Pueblo Rapid Response Network (Humboldt County) ● Hotline: 707-200-8091 ● Website: https://www.instagram.com/centrodelpueblo Kern County Rapid Response Network ● Hotline: 661-432-2230 ● Website: http://www.rapidresponsekern.com Monterey Rapid Response Network (Monterey County) ● Hotline: 831-204-8082 North Bay Rapid Response Network (Sonoma, Napa & Solano Counties) ● Hotline: 707- 800-4544 ● Website: https://www.northbayop.org/nbrrn Sacramento Rapid Response Network (Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Butte and rural areas North without a more local hotline) ● Hotline: 916-382-0256
● Website: https://www.sacfuelnetwork.org/sacramento-rapid-response-network Santa Cruz County: Your Allied Rapid Response Network & Pajaro Valley Rapid Response ● Hotline: 831-239-4289 ● Website: https://www.facebook.com/YARRsantacruz/ Valley Watch Rapid Response Network (Fresno, San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus, and Kern Counties) ● Hotline: 559-206-0151
Los Angeles Los Angeles Raids and Rapid Response Network ● Hotline: 888-624-4752 Immigrant Defenders Law Center Rapid Response Legal Resource Hotline (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties) ● Hotline: (213) 833-8283 ● Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday from 9AM-4PM PST ● Website: https://www.immdef.org/blog/immdefrrhotline
San Diego San Diego Rapid Response Network ● Hotline: (619) 536-0823 ● Website: https://rapidresponsesd.org/ Immigrant Defenders Law Center Rapid Response Legal Resource Hotline (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties) ● Hotline: (213) 833-8283 ● Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday from 9AM-4PM PST ● Website: https://www.immdef.org/blog/immdefrrhotline
Other Southern California Immigrant Defenders Law Center Rapid Response Legal Resource Hotline (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties) ● Hotline: (213) 833-8283 ● Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday from 9AM-4PM PST ● Website: https://www.immdef.org/blog/immdefrrhotline Inland Coalition For Immigrant Justice – Emergency Response Network (San Bernardino & Riverside Counties) ● Hotline: 909-361-4588 ● Website: http://ic4ij.org/ ÓRALE (City of Long Beach) ● Hotline: (562) 276-0267 (leave a voicemail) ● Website: https://www.orale.org/ Orange County Rapid Response Network ● Hotline: 714-881-1558 ● Email: casereferral@ocrapidresponse.org 805 Immigrant Rapid Response Network (Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties) ● Hotline: (805) 870-8855 ● Website: www.805immigrant.org Are we missing a California Rapid Response Network? Please let us know!
Arrests & Detention National Immigration Law Centre KYR: What to do if you are Arrested or Detained by ICE General Info on what to do if you are stopped, arrested, or detained by immigration or other law enforcement. Updated April 9, 2025. Haga Clic para la Versión en Español.
Translations: Arabic | Chinese – Simplified | Chinese – Traditional Haitian Creole | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese
National Immigration Project — National Lawyers Guild My Community Member was Arrested by ICE — what do I do? Checklist for the aftermath of an ICE arrest to determine next steps. (eg. info on finding the person who was detained, and/or identify what assistance and support they and their family need). Community Explainer for Advocates. Published March 4, 2025.
Download Now: English | Español (Spanish) | Haitian Creole
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) KYR: What to Do if You or a Loved One is Detained This resource from NIJC is designed to help immigrants and their families better understand what to do when someone is detained by immigration officials. Download the NIJC Factsheet in English, Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, or in Spanish.
Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE All individuals in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status. NIJC has compiled information to help you protect yourself and your family, and defend your rights, in three primary categories: Create a Safety Plan, Defend Your Rights, and Sample Judicial and ICE Warrants. Available in English, French, Haitian Creole, and Spanish. Protest Rights https://www.nilc.org/resources/immigrant-participation-in-protests-rights/