How to Prepare Yourself for an ICE Raid

During the fiscal year of 2007, the arrests made by ICE (30,396) were double than the previous year. While ICE claims it is only interested in locating the approximately 630,000 undocumented immigrants with a criminal background or those who have ignored their orders of deportation, they have often arrested people with no criminal background or orders of deportation, but who only appeared to be undocumented. Consequently, many immigration lawyers are encouraging families to plan for a possible deportation. Do you have an emergency plan in case the inevitable occurs?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A good immigration lawyer
• A Miranda Rights Card

1. Get a good immigration lawyer. Keep his or her telephone number with you at all times and make sure your family members have access to that information.
2. Keep copies of all your important documentation with a relative or a friend you trust. Keep any prescriptions for any medicine you need with you at all times.
3. Assign a family member or trusted friend power of attorney to act on your behalf in legal affairs, such as having the authority to sell your house or to wire you the money from your bank account. Once an order of deportation has been emitted and you do not have a lawyer, you will not be given the chance to care for your affairs, but will be deported immediately.
4. If you have children, make arrangements with someone you trust to take over their care should you be arrested by ICE. Inform your children of your plan and give them the telephone number of the person they are to call should the inevitable happen.
5. Carry your Miranda Rights Card with you at all times. If you are detained, show the officials the card and remind them you are not going to answer any of their questions until your lawyer is present.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are detained, remember the following:
• Keep silent
• Only give your first and last names
• Don't lie
• Do not give the officials false documents, such as a fake social security card or green card.
• Do not reveal your immigration status
• Do not carry ID's from another country
• Present the Miranda Rights Card