To help navigate these times with more confidence, we are sharing several important resources below. Please keep in mind the date of this blog and double check for any updates, as things tend to shift quickly in this climate.
- “Know Your Rights” Guide: This website outlines essential information to protect yourself and your loved ones in various situations. With a new Executive Order saying anyone in the U.S. under 2 years is subject to expedited removal, the updated advice is for noncitizens to carry documentation proving they have been in the U.S. for over 2 years. If approached by ICE, they should still assert their right to a hearing and look for legal representation. And, as described in the Know Your Rights guide, they should NOT sign anything or make any statements.
- Family Preparation Plan: This guide will assist you in making important preparations to ensure your family’s safety and stability, no matter what circumstances arise.
- Rapid Response Networks Per County: Please bookmark these numbers and call your county’s hotline if you see what looks like ICE enforcement or if a loved one is arrested. The motto is: Power, not panic. Mobilizing together to verify actual activities versus rumors is critical to keep us in power versus panic. The networks can send volunteer observers to check locations with suspected ICE activity and confirm if an arrest is criminal or ICE-related.
We encourage you to review these materials carefully and share them with your family and community. If you are a U.S. citizen, you may consider becoming involved with one of your local Rapid Response Networks. Our goal is to provide the tools and knowledge to feel empowered and prepared.
Please know that we are here to support you. We are stronger together!