Alliance Wire

Virtual Connection Session: Know Your Rights

September 8, 2025

September 2, 2025 at 12 PM on Zoom

Presenters: Cristian Moreno Rodriguez (El Pueblo Unido Director), and Alexander Mendoza (Community Organizer). Please connect with them if you have additional questions or would like to receive an internal staff training for your business, organization or collective.

Alexander@elpueblounidoac.org - 609-200-1030

Cristian@elpueblounidoac.org

Key Takeaways

  • El Pueblo Unido provided critical "Know Your Rights" training on how to respond to ICE encounters in various settings (home, work, public spaces)
  • Key rights: remain silent, don't open door without warrant, don't consent to searches, ask if you are free to go, don’t comment on your immigration status
  • ICE using new facial recognition tech to determine immigration status without verbal interaction
  • Importance of distinguishing between administrative vs. judicial warrants
  • Need for community preparedness, rapid response networks, and ally support

YouTube Recording: https://youtu.be/hWyD11hlu2o

Topics

  • El Pueblo Unido
    • El Pueblo Unido is a 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit based in Atlantic City that focuses on serving immigrant families, workers, tenants, and youth through legal, social, and educational services. They are part of statewide coalitions like the NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice and have trained over 750 community members on Know Your Rights Workshops since January 2023.
  • Understanding the Difference Between ICE Warrants and Judicial Warrants
    • ICE administrative warrants (I-200 or I-205) are not the same as judicial warrants signed by a judge. Judicial warrants allow law enforcement to forcibly enter a private residence, while ICE administrative warrants do not. Attendees were advised to never open the door for ICE agents without seeing a valid judicial warrant first.
  • Navigating Encounters with ICE in Public vs. Private Spaces vs. Mixed Spaces
    • The presenters explained that ICE agents often try to use deceptive tactics, such as claiming to be the "police" or saying they are looking for a specific individual, in an attempt to gain entry without a proper judicial warrant. They might also start seemingly casual conversations such as, “Where are you from?” to determine your country of origin or other identifying information.
    • In public spaces, such as on the street or in a restaurant, ICE agents can approach and question individuals without a warrant, so the advice is to remain silent, refuse searches, and ask if you are free to go. Do not discuss immigration status, country of origin, name, or any other potentially identifying information regarding yourself or other members in your community.
    • In private spaces like homes or businesses, ICE needs a judicial warrant to enter unless the owner/manager consents. Attendees should ask to see the warrant and verify its validity. Remember, ICE Administrative Warrants are not the same as judicial warrants.
    • For mixed spaces like events or workplaces that have private areas within them, organizers/managers can assert the right to require a judicial warrant before allowing ICE agents to enter private areas. It is important to have designated staff or volunteers who are trained on Know Your Rights to act as a barrier between ICE agents and the private areas of the space. These individuals should be prepared to ask for a judicial warrant before allowing ICE agents to enter the private sections.
  • Immigration Enforcement Overview
    • ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)- primary agency for immigration arrests/deportations
    • Sub-agencies: ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations), HSI (Homeland Security Investigations)
    • CBP (Customs and Border Protection)- can operate within 100 miles of US borders, and New Jersey falls within that jurisdiction
    • Recent increase in "collateral arrests" and public raids beyond targeted individuals. Collateral arrests are those arrests involving people other than the individual primarily targeted for arrest.
  • Constitutional Rights and ICE Encounters
    • 4th Amendment protects against unlawful entry into private spaces
    • 5th Amendment provides right to remain silent
    • 6th Amendment guarantees right to legal representation
    • ICE needs judicial warrant signed by judge to enter private spaces
    • In public, ICE can question but needs probable cause to detain/arrest
    • Administrative ICE warrants do not allow entry into homes. They ARE NOT the same as judicial warrants.
  • Responding to ICE
    • Remain silent, don't answer questions about immigration status or country of origin
    • Never open the door for ICE agents without first verifying that they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, which includes the correct name, address, and a judge's signature.
    • Remain silent, don't answer questions about immigration status or country of origin
    • Don't sign anything without attorney present
    • Ask if free to go if not under arrest
    • Document encounter if possible
    • Carry proof of >2 years in US to avoid expedited removal
  • Documenting ICE Activity and Providing Support
    • El Pueblo Unido operates a 24/7 rapid response hotline (609-200-1030) that community members can call to report any sightings or encounters with ICE agents.
    • The organization documents these incidents by taking photos, videos, and recording license plate information to build a database and provide evidence of ICE activity in the region.
    • El Pueblo Unido also offers accompaniment services, where they send trained volunteers to support community members during critical appointments or interactions with immigration authorities, such as visits to the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark.
  • Preparing for Potential Arrests and Detentions
    • Attendees were advised on steps to take if a community member is arrested by ICE, including asserting the right to remain silent, refusing to sign any documents without an attorney present, and contacting the Mexican consulate for assistance.
    • El Pueblo Unido conducts "power of attorney" legal clinics to help families prepare emergency plans in case a parent is detained, ensuring that their children can be cared for and their affairs can be managed.
    • The organization also trains volunteers on accompaniment, where they go with community members to immigration appointments or court hearings to provide support and ensure their rights are protected.

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