With the rise in the number of immigrant raids across Southern California last week, there are more questions than ever about how to handle interactions with federal agents.
One agent with immigration and customs enforcement was arrested in the clothing district, particularly in Amviance Apparel. There, the Immigration Bureau detained packaging officers and other locations for clothing wholesalers on Friday. The protest continued over the weekend, prompting the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops to downtown Los Angeles.
The attack is the latest in a string of famous immigration enforcement measures over the past week that are part of President Trump’s deportation crackdown. A few days ago, immigration agents stormed and arrested a popular San Diego restaurant, causing confrontations with enraged residents. Agents also arrested Chinese and Taiwanese citizens at underground nightclubs in the Los Angeles area.
Authorities suggest that more attacks are coming.
“What I’m telling you, we’re going to continue to enforce the law in LA every day,” Trump’s “border emperor” and Tom Homan told NBC News. “Every day in LA, we enforce immigration laws. We don’t care if they like it or not.”
Authorities have not said how long or explain the attack will take on larger operations. However, in a deployment memo sending the National Guard to LA, the authorities said, “The duration of service will be at 60 days or the Secretary of Defense’s discretion. Furthermore, the Secretary of Defense may, if necessary, be employed to enhance and support the protection of any number of federal functions and property, as deemed appropriate, at his discretion.”
Over the past few months, The Times has been seeking guidance from experts for employees and employers who find themselves in the crosshairs.
Here’s a summary of what we found:
If an immigration agent knocks on your door, what can you do?
If you are at home alone or with family and hear a knock at the door, check the windows, security cameras, or peephole to identify if the ice agent is outside.
When finding yourself in this situation, the first step is to close the door and leave it locked.
If you want to present a valid search warrant, you will need to open the door and allow agents inside the home.
Supporters say agents must identify themselves and show warrants by placing them in the window or sliding under the door.
Valid warrants are:
issued by the court. He has the correct name and address of the person being seized. Signed by a judge or magistrate.
This can be an overwhelming and terrifying situation. All of these feelings are valid, said Pedro Trujillo, director of organisation for the Humane Migration Rights Union.
There is no time limit for visits, so he suggests taking a little time to gather himself.
If you need help verbalizing your rights, show your agent a red card that will help you explain your rights.
The red card can be downloaded from the Immigration Law Resource Center website.
By showing this card, you assert that you are silent and want to talk to your lawyer.
The card states that the person asking the ICE agent refuses to answer the question and has the right to sign or hand over the document under the fifth amendment under the US Constitution.
This card can be viewed through the window and presented to the agent, whether it is a physical copy of your phone or a photo.
According to Adobates, if an ICE agent enters your home without consent, you have the right to say, “I do not agree to this entry or search.”
Do not physically resist. Instead, you have the right to document what will happen, including:
Obtain the officer’s name and badge number, document the details of the actions, and collect contact information for current witnesses.
Once the agent leaves, you have the right to reach out to a legal representative and consult with them.
Do I need to talk to an ice agent?
You have the right to remain silent.
For example, according to the National Center for Immigration Law, if asked about the status of your immigration, where you were born, and how you entered the United States, you can refuse to respond or silence.
You can say, “I want to be silent” or, “I exercise my right to remain silent.”
Experts advise you that there is no need to sign documents or provide personal information.
What happens if I’m in a car or on public transport and an ice agent appears?
If you have an ice agent when you are on public transport:
You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. If an agent wants to search for you and your belongings, you have the right to refuse a search by saying you do not agree. Agents can “lightly knock down” the clothes if they suspect you have a weapon. “Can I leave freely?” If the agent says “Yes,” he quietly leaves. You may record interactions to document violations of your rights.
If the ice agent approaches you while you are in the car:
If stopped by law enforcement, pull safely. Ask the law enforcement officer to identify whether he is a highway patrol, police, or ice agent by showing badges. If you are an ice agent, you have the right to remain silent and not provide information and require that you provide a prison and race host for the Acting Director of the California Center for Immigration Policy. Licenses and registrations, etc. If they can identify them as ice agents, they will remain silent and will not provide any information. You can say, “I don’t agree with the search.” Officers can still conduct a search if they believe that evidence of a crime is included.
What happens if I’m detained?
If you are detained or detained, you are entitled to reach out to the lawyer and receive a call from the lawyer.
You can prove that you have an attorney by providing a signed form G-28 with your attorney.
Are you not a lawyer? You can ask your ICE representative for a list of Pro-Bono lawyers.
You can also ask the consulate to contact them. The consulate may be able to help find an attorney.
Be familiar with the rules of the detention center you are deployed. You can do so by asking for a copy of the Detainee Handbook to understand the rules of the detention center, your rights, and how to communicate with your loved ones.
The book includes English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, K’iche (Quiché)/Kxlantzij, Mam, Portuguese, Pulaar, Punjabi, Q’eqchi’ (Kekchí), Russified Chesise, Turkish, vietnes.
What is Ice Raid?
An assault is when an ICE agent arrives at work without warning its employer. According to California employers, they can be accompanied by other agencies or appearing in many.
Can ICE go to work to detain a particular person?
According to the National Center for Immigration Law, ICE agents can go to business to try to find a particular person or person.
How can an employer prepare for a workplace ice visit?
California employer assn. We recommend creating a four-stage response plan that needs to be addressed:
If ICE is displayed or received a notification, who should get a warning? Who is allowed to speak to law enforcement on behalf of the company? What information can we collect from agents?
Who should warn: Management within the organization and employee/union representatives can reduce workplace disruption and calm employees, said Juliana Gabriel, vice president of human resources for California employers.
“Rumours and misinformation tend to cause panic among the workforce, allowing some employees to flee or confront the agent,” she said. “Running can give agents a reason to detain or arrest someone, so we recommend that you have employee representatives or management members to keep the orders in place and calm the employee.”
When ICE appears, the legal counsel should be notified immediately as it will help protect the organization and employees from agents who cross boundaries or deprive them of their freedom, as long as they are given the authority to do at your workplace,” she added.
Certified Speakers: Examples of people you can designate to speak to agents include members of the management team, such as a business owner or general manager or a human resources representative.
“Ideally, you’ll be someone who’s familiar with response planning.
She said that the person or person identified should remain structured confidently, clearly and “while protecting the privacy of the organization and its employees.”
Collecting ICE Agent Information: You have the right to ask immigrant staff for the agents they represent and for their names, badge numbers and business cards.
“There have been reports of citizens impersonating ice agents, targeting others, detaining them and harassing them,” Gabriel said.
Designated Waiting Room: Find a meeting room or office where agents can wait. This can limit workplace confusion.
What to do when ice appears at work?
Companies need to establish a response plan as soon as immigration officers arrive.
Before an ICE agent enters your business private area (public areas are parking or lobbying), they must present a valid warrant to do their search.
When a warrant is presented in a private home, the workplace must issue a valid warrant by the court.
According to the National Employment Act Project, businesses need to ensure that employees know their rights and should refrain from engaging with ice officials.
If an ICE agent has questions or requests, the worker should not respond and instead instruct the official to speak to the employer.
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