Know Your Rights

Have you identified someone you trust who can take action for you in an emergency — like contacting your attorney and looking after your children — and asked them to be your emergency contact?

Does your emergency contact know important information, like your attorney’s contact information, your family’s contact information, your alien registration number (A#), your date of birth and your country of origin?

Do you have guardianship documents finalized for children in your care?

Have you spoken to your children about what they should do in the event of an emergency? Are they aware of who their guardians are and how to contact them?

Do you have a guardian or trusted person aware of any of your family/children’s medical needs? Do they know where their doctor’s office is located? Do they have access to their insurance information? Are they able to refill medications?

Carry necessary medications with you when you leave the house. If you are detained, it is more likely you will have access to them if they are with you.

Does a trusted person have access to your bank accounts?

Keep important original documents (birth certificates, passports, medical records, power of attorney forms) in one safe place that someone you trust can access.

Make physical and digital copies of your documents.

Consider carrying copies of your legal documents with you.

Write down and learn the phone numbers of your lawyer and emergency contact. Do not rely only on your cell phone.

Once your emergency plan is ready, have a conversation to share the plan with your children, trusted family members, and friends. This can ease anxiety.

Talk to family or roommates about what to do if immigration agents come to your door. Practice not opening unless a judicial warrant is shown.