Important: This page provides general legal information based on current guidance from the ACLU, the National Immigrant Justice Center, and immigration attorneys. It is not legal advice. Every situation is different. If you are facing an immigration enforcement situation, contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible.
The most important thing to know
The U.S. Constitution protects everyone on American soil — not just citizens.
The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to remain silent and the right to due process. The Fourth Amendment protects everyone from unreasonable searches and your home from entry without a proper warrant. These rights apply to you regardless of your immigration status. Your constitutional protections do not depend on whether you are a citizen. They apply to every person in the United States.
What documents to carry
🇺🇸 If you are a U.S. citizen
You are not required by law to carry proof of citizenship. However, carrying your U.S. passport or naturalization certificate can help resolve an encounter quickly.
🟢 If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
Federal law requires you to carry your green card at all times and present it if asked by an immigration officer. Carry it every day.
📋 If you have a valid visa, work permit, or other immigration document
If you are over 18 and have valid, unexpired immigration documents, the law requires you to carry them with you.
📅 If you have lived in the United States for at least two years
Carry documents that prove this. Certain noncitizens who have been here fewer than two years may be at risk of fast-track deportation without a hearing.
⚠️ Important warning for everyone
Never lie or present fake or fraudulent documents. Identification documents from a foreign country or expired U.S. immigration documents can be used against you in immigration proceedings.
If you are stopped on the street or in public
1
Ask: "Am I free to leave?" If they say yes, you have the right to calmly walk away.
2
Ask agents to show their badges and identify themselves. ICE agents sometimes wear uniforms that say "Police" — it is important to know which agency you are dealing with.
3
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say — your name, where you were born, your immigration status, your criminal history — can be used against you in immigration proceedings.
4
Do not physically resist — even if you believe the agents are acting unlawfully. Stay calm, say as little as possible, and contact a lawyer as soon as you are able.
ICE cannot lawfully hold you unless they have reason to think you are in the country without authorization or have violated an immigration-related criminal law. Race or ethnicity alone are not valid reasons to stop you.
If ICE comes to your home
This is one of the most important situations to understand. There is a critical legal distinction you must know:
There are two types of warrants — and only one allows ICE to enter your home
Knowing the difference can protect your rights
✓ Allows entry
Judicial Warrant
Signed by a judge. This authorizes ICE to enter your home. If an agent presents one of these, they can legally enter. Ask to see it before opening the door.
✗ Does NOT allow entry
Administrative Warrant
Signed by an ICE officer — not a judge. Form I-200 or I-205. This does not authorize entry into your home. You do not have to open the door.
The rule: ICE cannot enter your home without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. An administrative warrant is not enough. You are not required to open the door for an administrative warrant.
1
Do not open the door. Teach your children not to open the door either.
2
Speak through the door. Ask: "Do you have a judicial warrant signed by a judge?"
3
If they say yes, ask them to slip it under the door or hold it to a window so you can see it before opening.
4
If they do not have a judicial warrant, stay calm, do not open the door, and contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible.
If ICE comes to your workplace
Your rights at work depend on whether you are in a public or private area.
Public areas (lobby, dining area, storefront)
ICE can enter areas open to the public without a warrant. If you are in a public-facing area, they may approach you.
Private employee areas (back office, warehouse, break room)
ICE needs a judicial warrant to enter private employee-only spaces. Your employer can — and should — ask to see one before allowing entry.
Regardless of where you are: you still have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, even at work.
If you are detained
Do not sign anything without speaking to a lawyer first
Once you sign certain documents, you may give up your right to fight your case in immigration court. Some documents can result in immediate deportation with no chance to see a judge. Always say: "I need to speak with my attorney before I sign anything."
You have the right to an immigration hearing
You do not have to accept deportation without going before an immigration judge. Do not let anyone pressure you into signing a "voluntary departure" without legal advice.
You have the right to contact your country's consulate
If you are detained, you can ask to contact your home country's consulate. They can provide support and help connect you with resources and legal help.
Give your A-number to your family now — before anything happens
Your A-number is a 9-digit number on your immigration documents. Your family can use it to locate you if you are detained. Write it down and make sure someone you trust has it.
Memorize at least one phone number
Your phone may be taken when you are detained. Know your attorney's phone number or a trusted family member's number by memory — not just in your phone.
Prepare now — before anything happens
The best time to prepare is now. Check off each item as you complete it.
✓
Make copies of all your immigration documents and store them in a safe place at home
✓
Carry your required documents every day
✓
Write down the phone number of an immigration attorney — and memorize it
✓
Tell a trusted family member or friend your A-number so they can find you if detained
✓
Make a family plan for if you are detained — who will care for children, who will contact a lawyer
✓
Download a "Know Your Rights" card to your phone's lock screen (free at aclu.org) — visible without unlocking
✓
Teach your children not to open the door without a trusted adult present
✓
Learn the difference between a judicial warrant and an administrative warrant (see above)
0 of 8 items completed
The Red Card — carry it in your wallet
Free tool — 56 languages
The ILRC Red Card
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has distributed over 10 million Red Cards — small wallet cards that state your constitutional rights in plain language. You can show the card to an immigration officer instead of speaking. It states that you are exercising your right to remain silent and your right to speak with an attorney. Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Hmong, Somali, Ukrainian, and 48 other languages — completely free.
Download your Red Card free →
Trusted legal resources
These organizations provide free, accurate legal information and can connect you with immigration attorneys.
ACLU Immigrants' Rights
Know your rights guides, legal resources, and immigration policy updates
aclu.org/immigrants-rights
National Immigrant Justice Center
Free legal services for immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees
immigrantjustice.org
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
Plain-language legal guides, Red Cards, and practitioner resources
ilrc.org
Immigration Advocates Network
Directory of free immigration legal services by state and city
immigrationadvocates.org
United We Dream (DACA)
Resources specifically for DACA recipients and undocumented youth
unitedwedream.org
Free resources for daily life
Becoming a citizen is one step. Building a stable, informed life in America is the bigger journey.
Immigration status & process
USCIS official site
Check your case status, find forms, get official information
uscis.gov · 1-800-375-5283 Health care
Community Health Centers
Federally funded clinics serving everyone regardless of immigration status or ability to pay
findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov Emergency assistance
211 Helpline
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone — connects to local food banks, housing assistance, utility help, and crisis services. Available in multiple languages.
English learning
Your local public library
Free ESL classes, computers, internet, job search help, notary services — libraries are generally considered safe spaces
Children & education
All children have the right to public school
Regardless of immigration status — protected by the Supreme Court (Plyler v. Doe, 1982). Schools cannot ask about immigration status during enrollment.
Workers' rights
Department of Labor — Wage & Hour Division
Protects workers' rights to fair pay regardless of immigration status
dol.gov/agencies/whd Mental health support
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential support — English and Spanish. Available 24/7.
1-800-662-4357Crisis Text Line
Free crisis support by text — English and Spanish
Text HOME to 741741
Staying informed
USAHello
Plain-language guides to life in America for newcomers — available in many languages
usahello.orgA final note
The Constitution you are studying for your civics test is the same document that protects you right now, today, before you become a citizen. The rights in the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments belong to you because you are a person on American soil — not because of your immigration status, not because of where you were born, not because of what language you speak.
Knowing your rights is not about being afraid. It is about being prepared — so that if you are ever in a difficult situation, you know exactly what to do and what to say.
Knowing your rights is not about being afraid. It is about being prepared — so that if you are ever in a difficult situation, you know exactly what to do and what to say.
This page is updated regularly. Last updated: May 2026. Source guidance: ACLU, National Immigrant Justice Center, Immigrant Defense Project. This is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation.