This is an extraordinarily painful moment for the City of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a city built by immigrants – and the federal administration’s actions to sow fear and discord have struck at the core of what this city represents to so many of its residents: a place that welcomes people to build a better life here.
Below you will find a list of rights and resources. Please stay informed, share resources, and encourage others to do the same.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
You have rights, and you can protect yourself and others by exercising those rights.
IF YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS:
Stay Calm and Silent
If an officer asks you questions, you have the right to say: “I choose to remain silent.”
Ask for a Warrant
ICE cannot enter your home without a signed judicial warrant.
Present Valid Documentation
If you have valid U.S. immigration documents, carry them with you. False documents can result in legal consequences.
Contact an Attorney
Keep the phone number of a legal service provider with you at all times, and consult an attorney before answering any questions or signing any documents.
Do Not Sign Anything
Never sign documents without speaking to a lawyer.
IF YOU ARE ARRESTED OR DETAINED:
Ask for an Attorney
You have the right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer. Do not say anything, sign
anything, or make any decisions without a lawyer.
Ask to Make a Phone Call
If you have been arrested by police, you have the right to make a local phone call.
Ask to Contact Your Consulate
If you have been detained by ICE, you have the right to contact your consulate or have an officer inform the consulate of your detention.
Do Not Answer Any Questions
While you are in jail, an immigration agent may visit you. Do not answer questions or
sign anything before talking to a lawyer. Read all papers fully. If you do not understand
or cannot read the papers, tell the officer you need an interpreter.
STAY PREPARED:
Create a Family Preparedness Plan
Include contact information for your lawyer, childcare providers, and other support
systems you have that may be able to help if you are arrested. Being prepared with all
your documentation will make it easier for a lawyer to help you if you need one.
Memorize a Phone Number
Memorize the phone number of a family member who will pick up and be able to call your lawyer and other support you may need.
Carry Your Papers With You At All Times
If you’re over 18, carry your papers with you at all times. If you don’t have them, tell the
officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before
answering any questions.
Carry a Know Your Rights Card
You can print one here.
IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE
If you know someone who ICE has detained, there are resources available to help find your loved one.
- Call the CHIRLA Immigration Assistance Line at 888-624-4752
Be ready to provide a full name, location, and “A number” if possible. An “A number” is an individual’s alien registration number. The “A number” starts with the letter A and has 9 numbers. You can find it on papers from immigration, like court notices or receipts for applications or on a work permit.
- Use the Online Detainee Locator
Many people arrested by ICE can be found using ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System.
It can take more than a day for someone’s name to show up in the system. People held by CBP should also show up there after 48 hours in custody. There are two ways to look for someone on the Locator:
- Searching for their “A number.”
- Searching for the person’s name and country of birth.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace:
Immigration agents may come to your workplace for a Form I-9 audit, a raid, or to detain specific people.
- Download the National Immigration Law Center’s Employer Guide
- Download Public Counsel’s FAQ on Nonprofit and Small Business Rights
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CARDS
This card explains that you are exercising your Constitutional rights. Available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Haitian Creole, Korean, Spanish Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
- Print the card and keep in your wallet
LAUSD RESOURCES
- Report Immigration Enforcement Actions
Families that see immigration enforcement activity in the community are encouraged to contact their school or use the district’s anonymous reporting app, LASAR.
- Update Your Child’s Emergency Contact Information
Families can change this in-person at their child’s school or through the Parent Portal.
- Get Resources
The district’s family hotline is active 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 213-443-1300.
Families can get referrals to resources including mental health support and free legal aid.
Caregiver Authorization Affidavit
This form can be signed and kept with other important documents and is written to take effect in the event of a parent’s detention. It allows a parent to designate an adult over the age of 18 as a “person in parental relation” and authorizes that person to make health and educational decisions for the child for periods of up to twelve months. It does not require going to court to complete this. It must be signed by the parents and the designated caregiver.