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As immigration enforcement efforts spark protests and concerns across Southern California, advocacy groups share important resources to help residents understand and protect their rights and report illegal activities.
Here’s what you need to know:
Free speech and the right to protest
Individuals taking part in the protest can distribute literature in flyers, chants, pickets, and public spaces such as sidewalks, parks and squares. According to ACLU Southern California, these activities are generally protected under the First Amendment, as long as they do not block access to buildings or disrupt counter demonstrations.
Live: Continued coverage of the Los Angeles protest
However, protesters cannot block sidewalks or entrances, interfere with enemy protests, or engage in indecent or intentionally false statements that incite violence. Permission is required to march on the streets, and demonstrators must follow local traffic laws.
Voice activities are widely protected in public areas and in many government-owned facilities that are open to the public. However, these protections do not apply to federal buildings, courts or private property without consent. Privately owned spaces open to the public, such as shopping malls, may allow limited free speech activities under certain rules.
Immigration and Citizenship Questions
You don’t need to answer questions about the immigration situation or where you were born. Non-citizens need to carry immigration documents, but they do not need to be presented unless their agents ask them to do so. Never provide incorrect information or documents.
If you are contacted by the FBI, you do not need to answer any questions. I politely request that you talk to an attorney. You may refuse the interview or agree to speak only to the legal counsel who attended.
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Your Rights During Law Enforcement Encounters
Individuals have the right to remain silent, refuse to search, and to hire an attorney if arrested. Everyone is protected by the Constitution, regardless of their status as an immigrant.
If you are stopped by police, don’t try to calmly escape, supporters say. Ask if you are free to leave. If you are not arrested, you can leave. You have the right to refuse to answer questions and reject searches unless the officer has reasonable doubts about the weapon.
At vehicle stops, drivers must display their license, registration and insurance.
Passengers also have the right to remain silent and may request that they leave if they are free to do so. Officers may search the vehicle without consent only if they believe it contains evidence of the crime.
If you’re arrested
Don’t resist arrest. Ask them to remain silent and immediately request a lawyer. Do not sign or say anything without a legal representative. You have the right to make a local call and the police may not have asked if you are calling an attorney.
Non-citizens should only talk to lawyers about immigration issues. Arrests can affect the situation of individual immigration, and documents signed without the presence of lawyers can have lasting consequences.
For more information or for legal assistance, click here.
Lausd
Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Unified School District began distributing “red cards,” a small wallet-sized guide, outlining constitutional protections for immigrant families. The cards are part of a broader campaign to provide instructions on what to do if approached by immigration agents and to reassure students and families that schools will remain safe spaces.
The document, which is available to citizens and non-citizens alike, was created by the Immigration Law Resource Centre and is available in 16 languages, ranging from Spanish to Haitian Creole and Tigrigna. Click here to access.
Southern California Rapid Response Network
Residents can also call the county’s rapid response network to report ice activities and enforcement actions.
This is the contact information
Central Valley: 559-206-0151 Kern County: 661-432-2230 Los Angeles: 888-624-4752 Boyle Heights (LA): 323-805-1049 Orange County: 714-881-1558 San Bernardino/River: 909-361-4588 Chairah (Long Beach): 562-276-0267 Immigration Defender: 213-833-8283 Immigration Speedy Hotline: 805-870-8855 (Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo)
How to Report Vandalism, Doodles, and Illegal Behaviors in LA County
If you experience an emergency or witness an ongoing crime, call 911 immediately.
For non-urgent circumstances, tips can be submitted anonymously through LA Crime Stoppers or the city’s Department of Street Services.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also allows residents to file police reports online about certain non-violent crimes.
Residents can use the Public Works Reporting System to report graffiti in non-embedded areas of the county.
Additional concerns, including other public nuisances and infrastructure issues, can be reported through the county’s general services portal.
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