Know Your Rights: Immigration

Below are a few resources to address your questions surrounding how to respond to ICE activity in WA08. Please keep your safety in mind at all times.

Know Your Rights

See more here: Know Your Rights: Civil Immigration Enforcement in Washington | Washington State

You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to speak, answer any questions, sign any document, or share any personal information. You can tell the officer “I choose to remain silent.” You may exercise this right at any time, even if you have already answered some questions. Anything you say or do can be used against you: You should not lie or show false documents.
You can ask if you are free to leave. Running or otherwise fleeing before determining whether you are free to go, could give an immigration officer probable cause to detain you, even without a valid judicial warrant.
1. If they answer “yes,” then you can leave immediately. You do not have to identify yourself or answer any questions.
2. If they answer “no,” then you may say that you would like to consult with an attorney and otherwise you have the right to remain silent.
You can ask them to leave. If immigration officers enter a private space and do not have a court order or judicial warrant signed by a judge, you can ask them to step outside and let them know you do not consent to a search.
1. In the workplace, they may not enter areas reserved for employees without permission.
2. At schools, they may not access areas that are not open to the general public, such as classrooms, private offices, and residence halls without permission.
3. On private transportation or within businesses that restrict access to their customers, immigration enforcement officials do not have to be admitted entry without consent or permission.
You can ask to see their court order or warrant signed by a judge. Immigration officers must have authorization from a judge in order to enter a private space without consent. If federal officials claim that they have a court order, warrant, subpoena, or other document that allows them to enter without consent, you can ask to review it before permitting them access. You may ask them to slip the document under a door or hold it up to a window so you can read it.
1. Ask to see a judicial warrant through the window or for it to be slipped under the door. It must be signed by a judge and have your name on it.
2. A deportation order or administrative warrant is NOT the same as a judicial warrant and does NOT authorize ICE agents to enter your home without permission.
3. You have the right to refuse ICE permission to enter your home if agents do not present a valid warrant.
You can ask for their information. Write down the name, telephone number, officer or badge number, and other identifying information that you are able to collect from the immigration officer.
You do not have to sign anything. You have no obligation to sign any document without speaking to an attorney. Make sure you understand exactly what the document says and means before you sign it. If the document is in a language that you do not understand, you may request that it be translated for you.
If you are arrested or detained. You have the right to speak to a lawyer immediately. Remember, you have the right to remain silent and refuse to sign any documents without advice from an attorney.
1. Additional Legal Resources and Helpful Guides:

Make a Plan and Be Prepared

Consider consulting a lawyer immediately.
Consider proactively making copies of your important documents and keeping the originals in a safe place. Make sure that a family member or loved one knows where these documents are and can access them.
Suggested examples of documents to have ready:
- Power of Attorney for Children: This legal document allows parents to appoint a guardian to care for their children, preventing them from being placed in foster care in an emergency.
- Power of Attorney for Finances: This legal document enables individuals to appoint an agent to manage their financial affairs, including banking, property transactions, and bill payments.
If you have it, carry with you evidence of lawful entry or current lawful status, including pending immigration court case or appeal
Make a family plan, including an emergency caretaker for your children.
Consider keeping a signed DHS Privacy Waiver in a safe place so they can advocate on your behalf.
Make sure your loved ones know that they can use ICE’s online detainee locator to find an adult who is in immigration custody here. They can also call the local ICE office here.

Contact Our Office for Immigration Casework

Please give us a call at (425) 657-1001 to get assistance with federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, USCIS, and more.

For pending immigration cases with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of State, we can ask for updates or possibly request for an expedite. However, we cannot direct an agency to make a specific decision. For individuals who have been detained by ICE, we can ask for updates and request information regarding their detention.