Resources Safety and your rights
If ICE comes to you
What to say and not do if immigration officers come to your home or work or stop you on the street.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is part of the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ICE arrests people on immigration grounds, detains them and deports them. Federal DHS has nothing to do with the City's Department of Homeless Services, which uses the same initials.
The NYPD and City agencies are not part of ICE and follow different rules.
A warrant allows a search or an arrest. A judge signs a judicial warrant; an immigration officer signs an administrative warrant. Whether you must let agents in depends on who signed it and whether there is an emergency.
This is general information, not legal advice; QARAVAN has no lawyers.
Start here
- Don't open the door: ask who it is, ask to see ID through a window or peephole and to slide any warrant under the door.
- Without your consent agents can enter with a warrant signed by a judge or in an emergency; an administrative warrant gives no such right.
- Stay silent and sign nothing until you talk to a lawyer. Say out loud “I do not consent to your search”.
Two kinds of warrant and what they mean for you
| Judicial warrant | Administrative warrant | |
|---|---|---|
| Who signed it | A judge | An immigration officer, not a judge |
| Do you have to let the agents in | If a judge signed the warrant, you will need to comply | According to the City and the Legal Aid Society, no: an administrative warrant does not give the right to enter without your consent |
| An emergency | In an emergency such as a threat to someone’s life, agents may enter your home without your consent, with or without a warrant | The same |
| An exception that lawyers report | None | The American Immigration Council reports an internal ICE memo from May 2025: under it ICE believes it can enter a home on an administrative warrant (Form I-205) when the person has a final removal order |
| What to say | Do not interfere, stay silent and ask to call a lawyer | “I do not consent to you being in my home. Please leave.” |
| How to check | Ask them to pass the warrant under the door and look for a judge’s signature | Ask them to pass the warrant under the door; if there is no judge’s signature, it is an administrative warrant |
Do not open the door
Through the closed door, ask who it is and ask to see a badge, ID or business card through a window, the peephole or under the door.
Check that it really is ICE
Make the Road New York advises making sure it really is ICE. Immigrant Defense Project has a flyer, “How ICE pretends to be local police”, on how ICE agents pose as local police.
Ask about a judicial warrant
Ask “Do you have a judicial warrant?”. If not, you have the right not to let them in and to say “I do not want to speak with you”.
If they say they have a warrant
Ask them to slide it under the door. If a judge signed it, you must comply; if not, it is an administrative warrant and you don't have to let them in. Lawyers report an exception: under an internal ICE memo (May 2025), agents believe they can enter with form I-205 if the person has a final removal order. Any ICE supervisor can sign an I-205. The American Immigration Council wrote in January 2026 that it is unknown how and when a federal court will review the memo, so ask a lawyer about your case.
If they are looking for someone else
If ICE is looking for someone who isn't there, you don't have to talk or say where they are. If you do answer, don't lie: it puts you at risk. You can ask them to leave contact details.
An emergency
If agents claim a threat to someone's life or public safety, ICE can enter without consent. Then don't interfere and stay silent.
Write down what happened
When it is safe, write down names and badge numbers, how many agents there were, what they wore and what they said. People nearby can film ICE if they don't interfere; filming yourself while agents talk to you or arrest you is risky.
Say you do not consent
Say clearly: “I do not consent to you being in my home. Please leave.” It may not stop the agents, but it can help a future case.
Refuse the search
If agents start searching rooms or belongings, keep saying “I do not consent to your search”. You can tell them there are children or other vulnerable people in the home.
Do not get into a physical struggle
Don't get physical with officers, even if you think what they are doing is illegal.
Stay silent and ask for a lawyer
Say “I want to remain silent and speak to a lawyer” and sign nothing.
Mention health and children
If you have health problems or need someone to look after a child, tell the agents.
Ask if you may leave
Ask “Am I free to leave?”. If yes, walk away calmly.
Stay silent about your birth country and status
You have the right not to answer about your country of birth, status or how you entered the US, whoever asks, local police included.
Sign nothing
You don't have to sign anything or answer questions, even from an immigration officer, until you talk to a lawyer.
Do not lie and do not show fake documents
Make the Road New York and Legal Aid Society advise not lying about your name or status and not carrying or showing fake documents: it puts you at risk.
Refuse the search
If agents want to search your pockets or bags, say “I do not consent to a search”. If they search anyway, don't resist physically: a clear refusal can matter in a future case.
You may keep your phone locked
According to the Legal Aid Society (October 2025), you have the right not to unlock your phone for ICE or give your passcode to any government official; you can turn off Face ID. In the view of EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group), a memorized passcode usually has stronger legal protection than a fingerprint or face, but the law here is changing. At airports and the border, CBP may in rare cases inspect a phone; CBP says travelers must present devices in a condition that allows inspection, and a device locked by a passcode or encryption may be detained, seized or face other action. Ask a lawyer before you travel.
Know the rule on carrying proof of registration
US law requires noncitizens over 18 to carry proof of registration. You have it if you were issued an EAD, an I-94 (arrival record) or parole (temporary permission to be in the US), or were sent a notice to appear in immigration court.
Check whether you have to register
According to USCIS (page updated September 4, 2026), people 14 and older who were not registered and fingerprinted when getting a US visa and who stay in the US 30 days or more must register, for example with form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration). Failing to register can bring criminal and civil penalties: a misdemeanor charge, fines, jail. Ask a lawyer whether you need to register.
Ask a lawyer what to carry
Organizations give different advice; the table follows the Legal Aid Society (a free New York legal organization). Check with a lawyer what you should carry.
What to carry, depending on your situation
| What to carry | What to do at home | |
|---|---|---|
| You have a green card (permanent residence) | The card itself (green card) | A paper copy of both sides in a safe place, a photo or scan in a secure electronic place |
| No permanent status, but you have a work permit | The work permit card (Employment Authorization Document, EAD) | A paper copy of both sides in a safe place, a photo or scan in a secure electronic place |
| No permanent status, an application with USCIS is pending | The receipt notice, or the approval notice if you have no EAD card; a notice of a bona fide determination or deferred action if you received one | A paper copy of the notice and other immigration papers in a safe place, photos or scans in a secure place |
| No permanent status, an immigration court hearing is coming | The hearing notice | A paper copy of the notice and other immigration papers in a safe place, photos or scans in a secure place |
| None of the above applies | You do not need to carry any particular documents; the Legal Aid Society does not recommend carrying documents that show your nationality or country of origin; ask a lawyer whether you must register (Form G-325R) | Ask a lawyer about your passport: advice differs |
Public areas
ICE can enter public areas of any workplace (a lobby, shop floor, dining room) without a warrant.
Staff-only areas
ICE cannot enter staff-only areas (break room, stockroom) without the employer's permission or a judicial warrant.
Stay silent and point to your employer
You have the right to stay silent and refer agents to your employer, who can ask for ID and whether they have a judicial warrant.
Refuse the search
If agents try to search your pockets or bags, say “I do not consent to a search”; if they search anyway, don't resist physically.
An emergency
If agents claim a threat to someone's life or public safety, they can enter without permission; then stay silent.
Stay silent and ask for a lawyer
Say “I want to remain silent and speak to a lawyer”. Until you talk to a lawyer you don't have to sign anything or answer questions.
Ask for an interpreter
Agents may not speak your language. You have the right to an interpreter for any conversation with ICE, any meeting and any hearing: say “I need an interpreter”.
Say if you are afraid to return
If you fear returning to your country, tell the officer right away: “I am afraid to return to my country”, “I fear persecution in my country” or “I want to apply for asylum”, and ask for a credible fear interview.
Mention health and children
Say if you have health problems or need someone to look after a child.
Call a number you know
After detention you can call family, friends, community members or a lawyer. Memorize the numbers of a lawyer and someone you trust: you may not get your phone with its contacts.
Visits
Detention centers allow visitors: family, friends, community members, a lawyer. Each center has its own rules, which visitors should read in advance.
Find out if it concerns you
Expedited removal is a fast process in which an immigration officer, not a judge, orders removal. It used to apply at or near the border; a 2025 policy extended it nationwide, and people are often removed within days. It can be used if officers believe you entered without inspection, were never formally admitted or paroled, and can't prove two years of continuous presence in the US.
Know what the courts decided
According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), on June 23, 2026 a D.C. Circuit panel, 2 to 1, in Make the Road New York v. Mullin, reversed the order that had paused the 2025 expansion, and on July 17, 2026 allowed it to take effect immediately. It now applies nationwide. On July 27, 2026 the plaintiffs asked the full court to rehear the case (en banc); we found no decision on that request as of early November 2026. Ask a lawyer what this means for you.
Prove two years
If you can prove you have been in the US for at least two years in a row, expedited removal generally should not apply to you. Keep papers with your name and dates: leases and rent receipts, bills, medical and bank records, work letters, tax returns, mail in your name. Keep copies with people you trust and in digital form.
Mention the two years and any fear
Tell the officer you have lived in the US more than two years, and say clearly right away if you fear returning: “I am afraid to return to my country”, “I fear persecution in my country”, “I want to apply for asylum”. Officers then generally must refer you to a credible fear interview.
Do not lie
Don't give false information or documents, ask for an interpreter if you don't understand English, and contact a lawyer as soon as you can.
Know who is who in the courtroom
Immigration courts are part of EOIR at the Department of Justice. The government doesn't give you a lawyer, but you can hire one; the government's lawyer in court represents the state, not you.
Find the date and place with your A-number
Your A-number is on your immigration documents. Enter it at acis.eoir.justice.gov.
Talk to a lawyer before the hearing
According to the City, people have been arrested at immigration court buildings. Before your hearing, talk to a lawyer, make a plan in case you are detained, and give someone close your A-number and hearing time.
What is known about arrests at immigration courts
According to a City report reviewing Executive Order 13 (a mayoral order of February 6, 2026; report published May 2026), from January 20, 2025 to March 10, 2026 ICE arrested about 5,567 people in and around New York City, more than half at the immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza. On May 18, 2026, in a suit by Make the Road New York, Judge P. Kevin Castel of the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.) paused ICE's policy: while the case continues, ICE generally may not arrest people coming to immigration court in or near 26 Federal Plaza, 201 Varick Street and 290 Broadway. DHS's 2021 guidance, allowing such arrests only in very limited cases such as a serious public safety threat, applies again. The measure is temporary. The Associated Press reported an arrest at 26 Federal Plaza the very next day, and in June 2026, according to The City Reporter, ICE arrested at least five more people at the immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza and 290 Broadway, citing their criminal histories. If you have ever been arrested or had a criminal case, tell your lawyer before the hearing. Everyone still needs a plan in case of detention. A separate state law protects people going to New York State courts.
If you want an online or telephone hearing
File a Motion to Change Hearing Format as early as possible, ideally with a lawyer. The judge tells you or your lawyer the decision: if granted, the hearing is online; if not, in person.
Find free lawyers
Each immigration court has a list of free and low-cost legal organizations: justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers. The City's MOIA line (1-800-354-0365, Russian available) can also help you find a lawyer.
Report a new address
Report a move to USCIS within 10 days (online account or form AR-11) and, if you have a court case, to the court within five working days through Respondent Access on the EOIR website (Change Contact Info). Otherwise hearing notices go to the old address.
Know the risk
According to the City's report on its Executive Order 13 audit (May 2026), about 15% of ICE arrests in and around New York City from January 20, 2025 to March 10, 2026 were tied to the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) supervision program: people were arrested at required check-ins even though they were following every rule.
Talk to a lawyer before the check-in
If you fear being detained at a check-in, fill out the form of the City's Rapid Response Legal Collaborative in advance: on.nyc.gov/rrlc. The program also helps people who are only at risk of detention, but it does not guarantee a lawyer. The City's MOIA line (800-354-0365, Russian available) tells you where else to find a free lawyer. Don't decide on your own to skip a check-in: only a lawyer can say what that would mean for your case.
Make a plan
Give someone you trust your A-number, the time and address of the check-in and your lawyer's number, and agree on what they will do if you are not out by a set time. Memorize the numbers of your lawyer and that person.
If you are detained
Say “I want to remain silent and speak to a lawyer” and sign nothing. If you are afraid to return to your country, say “I am afraid to return to my country” right away.
Talk to a lawyer before you travel
If you have an immigration case, talk to an immigration lawyer before a trip or going to an airport.
Bring paper copies
Paper copies of documents showing lawful presence (visa, green card, work permit, receipts for pending applications), certified copies of criminal court dispositions if your case is closed (ask a lawyer which), and your ticket or boarding pass.
Tell people close to you
Carry or memorize the numbers of a lawyer, friend or relative; share your location and flight details with someone you trust.
MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline
NYC residentsFree
A free, confidential City line with Russian. It answers immigration policy questions and tells you where to find a free lawyer; it doesn't book appointments itself. New Yorkers with household income below 200% of the federal poverty level can qualify for legal help.
MOIA Know Your Rights materials (in Russian)
Any statusFree
Booklets in Russian: “What to do if ICE approaches you”, “What to do if your friend or family member is detained” and “Sanctuary City Laws in New York City”; a workplace flyer and a Yellow Card in Russian with the MOIA line and HOPE Hotline (1-800-621-4673). The same page has a form for people at risk of detention and those already detained.
Red Cards from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
Any statusFree
Free cards on how to use your rights with immigration officers, available in Russian. Business-card-size print files (3.5 by 2 inches) are on the website. They don't replace a lawyer. Don't pay for them: ILRC warns about paid offers on social media.
Immigrant Defense Project: Know Your Rights with ICE
Any statusFree
Flyers on your rights when you meet ICE in 17 languages, infographics on what to do in a car stop, the flyer “How ICE pretends to be local police,” and materials on documenting ICE arrests.
Legal Aid Society: What You Need to Know About ICE Encounters
Any statusFree
A detailed Legal Aid Society guide on dealing with ICE and which documents to carry. Its materials on expedited removal and new state laws are also in Russian.
Make the Road New York: We Protect Us
Any statusFree
Make the Road New York guides on your rights with ICE, at work, and on arrests at New York courts.
- ICE
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; it arrests people on immigration grounds, holds them in detention and deports them.
- DHS
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the federal department that includes ICE and USCIS. Not to be confused with the City’s Department of Homeless Services, which uses the same abbreviation.
- USCIS
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security that handles asylum, green card, work permit and other immigration benefit applications.
- EOIR
- The Executive Office for Immigration Review, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Justice under which the immigration courts operate.
- Judicial warrant
- A paper signed by a judge that permits officers to search a place or arrest a person.
- Administrative warrant
- A warrant signed by an immigration officer, not a judge; it does not give the right to enter your home without your consent.
- A-number
- An 8- or 9-digit number after the letter A that the government gave you; it is on most immigration documents, and your case and hearings are looked up by it.
- Expedited removal
- Fast-track removal without a court hearing, on the order of an immigration officer.
- Credible fear interview
- An interview in which a person who fears returning to their country explains the fear; its result decides whether the person can seek protection.
- EAD
- Employment Authorization Document, the work permit card issued by USCIS.
- I-94
- The record of your entry into the U.S.; an electronic I-94 can be shown from a phone or printed.
- Parole
- A temporary permission to be in the U.S., granted at entry or later.
- Form I-205
- An administrative warrant that any supervising ICE officer can sign; it requires that the person already has a deportation order (American Immigration Council).
- Final removal order
- A deportation order from an immigration judge; people who miss a hearing can be ordered removed and may not know it.
All pages: Safety and your rights
Sources, checked November 2026
- nyc.gov/site/immigrants/legal-resources/get-legal-help.page
- nyc.gov/site/immigrants/legal-resources/know-your-rights.page
- ilrc.org/redcards
- immigrantdefenseproject.org/know-your-rights-with-ice
- legalaidnyc.org/get-help/immigration-deportation/what-you-need…
- maketheroadny.org/we-protect-us
- maketheroadny.org
- legalaidnyc.org
- on.nyc.gov/rrlc
- respondentaccess.eoir.justice.gov/en