To protect yourself, your family, and your community!

YOU HAVE RIGHTS regardless of your immigration status. You may be at risk of being deported if you are undocumented, if you are a non-citizen with a criminal history, if you are on parole or have a prior deportation order.

Knowledge is power.  Be prepared. Do not wait.

Act Now One Page Checklist

Know what documents to keep with you and when to show them to immigration or police officers. Never carry any false identity or immigration documents.

What to Do If Immigration Approaches, Arrests, or Detains You (several languages)

Make sure you and others know your rights and what to do if approached by ICE. Inform your family members (including children), housemates, neighbors, and coworkers of their rights.

Always carry two rights cards. In the event immigration or police officers do not return the card, you will have another copy.

You have the right to remain silent. If you are legally detained in Wisconsin, you must give your name.  But that is all.  Politely state your name and say, “I choose to remain silent.”

You have the right to demand a valid warrant before letting anyone into your home. Do NOT open the door. Ask for the warrant to be slipped under the door or shown through a window.

You have the right to speak to an attorney and the right to make a phone call.

You have the right to refuse to sign anything before speaking with your attorney. Signing documents before speaking with an attorney can result in immediate deportation without a hearing in front of an immigration judge.

• • • A Guide to Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement (several languages)
    • Printable Red Cards (available in 50+ languages)
    • Printable Alternative Rights Card (English) (Español)
    • Additional Know Your Rights and ICE Encounter information is available at https://apoyalagente.com.

Know how to read a warrant.

• Reading a Warrant (English) (Español)

Know the rapid response number to call if ICE is at your home, workplace, or in the community.

Call or text the Monarca Rapid Response Line at 612.441.2881 if ICE is sighted in Western Wisconsin (within approximately 125 miles of Minneapolis, MN).

Call the Voces de la Frontera Rapid Response Line at 800.427.0213 if ICE is sighted elsewhere in Wisconsin.

Printable rapid response cards: (English) (Español)

Find an attorney or an accredited representative to help you in the event of an emergency. Make sure to speak with the attorney or accredited representative. Do not just write down the phone number without making sure the person will be able to help you.

A list of legal resources is available at https://apoyalagente.com/legalresources/.

Get screened by an attorney or accredited representative to determine if you are eligible for another immigration status.

Register with your local consulate (including children born in the United States).

How to Register US-Born Child with Mexican Consulate

Consulate of Mexico in St. Paul, 797 7th Street E, St. Paul, MN 55106 (651.771.5494) – serves the Wisconsin counties of Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Washburn

Consulate of Mexico in Milwaukee, 1443 N. Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414. 944.7586) – serves all other Wisconsin counties

Make a family plan about what to do in the event a family member is arrested, detained, or goes missing.

Decide who will be called and in what order.

Consider using the ReadyNow! phone app, which is a secure one-click emergency alert system that instantly notifies trusted contacts and legal aid if you are arrested. It also provides your support network with the necessary information to respond quickly.

Decide who will care for your children in an emergency. Make sure that person has important information about your children, such as medications they need.

Make sure your children’s schools have up to date information and emergency contacts, including who can and cannot pick up your children.

Execute a Power of Attorney Delegating Parental Power. This will allow a close friend or family member to care for your children in an emergency, rather than having them placed in the foster care system.

Execute a Travel Consent form for each child; and obtain passports for children born in the United States. A passport is necessary to travel outside the country.

For added security, consider consulting a family attorney to formalize the childcare plan, designate a legal guardian, and establish power of attorney for your financial affairs.

Additional planning information and detailed forms are available at https://apoyalagente.com/families/.

Make copies of all immigration and other important papers for each family member. Keep them in a safe place. Make sure a trusted friend, family member that does not live with you, or member of the community knows where you keep these papers or make a set of copies for them to keep.

Important papers include work authorization, copies of identification, passports, copies of any other immigration papers (including receipt notices for any pending cases and approval notices for family petitions), birth and marriage certificates (with English translations), Social Security cards, documents related to criminal arrests or cases, contact information for attorneys who have represented you in the past, and other important information (such as a list of medications family members take).

Here is a comprehensive List of Important Documents (English) (Español).

Make a workplace plan. Talk to your attorney or employer about signing a document allowing a family member to pick up your paycheck if you are detained.

• • Workplace Checklist (English) (Español)
  • Additional Know Your Rights and ICE Encounter information is available at https://apoyalagente.com.

Save money for rent, food, medications, and other needs if you are detained. Talk to your attorney or employer about signing a document allowing a family member to pick up your paycheck if you are detained.

Ask a relative, friend, or member of the community to post bond if you are detained. This person must be a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder). A bond to be released from immigration detention is usually $1,500, but it can be more.  In most cases, the bond money will be returned once your immigration case is over.

This information is intended as guidance for the general public. For legal advice about your own situation, consult an attorney or authorized immigration representative.