Guaros in the United States
Your rights with ICE
What to do and what not to do if immigration knocks on your door, stops you on the street or detains you. In plain words, with the sources for every rule and verified help lines.
The most important things
If you only remember five things, make it these.
Stay calm and don't run.
Don't run, argue or push an officer, even if you think your rights are being violated. Keep your hands where they can see them. Running can give them a reason to arrest you.[1][3][5]
Stay silent and ask for a lawyer.
You have the right not to answer questions, with or without papers. Say it out loud: "I want to remain silent. I want to speak with a lawyer." What you say can be used against you in immigration court. In some states you must give your name if asked; nothing more.[1][3]
Don't open the door without a warrant signed by a judge.
Talk through the door and ask them to slide the warrant underneath. Only a court warrant signed by a judge lets them in without your permission. ICE warrants on Forms I-200 or I-205 are not signed by a court judge.[1][3][4]
Don't sign anything without talking to a lawyer.
Especially a paper that says Voluntary Departure, Stipulated Removal Order or Waiver. Signing it can take away your right to see a judge and to come back to the United States.[1][3]
Don't lie or show false documents.
Lying or handing over false papers gets you into more trouble. If you don't want to answer, don't make things up: stay silent, which is your right.[1][3]
If they knock on your door
Follow these steps in order. The door stays closed the whole time.
Step 4: Check it: was it signed by a court judge?
A judicial warrant comes from a court ("U.S. District Court" or a state court), is signed by a judge and names you or your address.[3][4]
If not
It says "Department of Homeland Security" (DHS), it is a Form I-200 or I-205, or it is signed by an officer or an "immigration judge".
It is not a warrant from a court judge. Say: "I do not consent to your entry." Keep the door closed.[1][3][4]
If yes
It was signed by a court judge and names you or your address.
They may enter the places the warrant lists. You still have the right to remain silent.[3][4]
Keep in mind
Watch out: ICE says it can enter with an I-205 in some cases. An internal ICE memo from May 2025, made public in January 2026, authorizes officers to force their way in with an administrative I-205 warrant to arrest someone who already has a final order of removal. Immigrant advocates say this collides with the Constitution. What you should do does not change: don't open, say you do not consent and, if they come in, don't resist. If you have a removal order, find a lawyer now.[1][24]
Probation. If you are on probation with a search condition, the police are allowed to enter your home.[1]
What to do in each situation
Which papers to carry
It depends on your situation. Find yours.
If you have valid status (a green card, asylum, a visa or TPS that has not expired). If you are 18 or older, the law requires you to carry your immigration papers. If an immigration officer asks for them, show them.[1][3]
If you have an open case (a pending asylum application, immigration court or an appeal). Carry a copy of the papers that prove it and show them if you are arrested. If you are not being arrested, stay silent.[3]
If you have no papers or your status expired (for example, if your TPS ended). Don't carry documents that show you were born abroad, like your Venezuelan passport. If you have lived here 2 years or more, carry proof: a lease, mail with your address and date, school or church records. Show it only if you are arrested.[3]
In every case. Keep copies and leave the originals somewhere safe. Tell someone you trust where they are.[1][3]
On the street or in a public place
Do this
Stay calm and ask which agency they are from.[3]
If they ask you questions, say: "I want to remain silent."[1][3]
Ask: "Am I free to leave?" If they say yes, walk away calmly.[3]
You can record on your phone or ask someone else to record.[3]
In some states you must give your name if the police ask. You don't have to answer anything else.[1]
Don't do this
Keep in mind
If you are on a tourist or business visa. Different rules apply at the border, at airports and for people on certain temporary (nonimmigrant) visas, such as tourist or business visas: they must give information about their status if an officer asks.[1]
In the car
Do this
Pull over somewhere safe. Turn off the engine, turn on the inside light, open the window part way and put your hands on the wheel.[1]
If the police ask, show your license, the car registration and proof of insurance.[1]
You and your passengers can stay silent. If you are a passenger, ask if you may leave; if they say yes, leave calmly.[1]
If they want to search the car, say you do not consent.[1]
Don't do this
Keep in mind
If the police believe the car holds evidence of a crime, they can search it without your consent.[1]
At immigration checkpoints near the border, agents can stop you without any suspicion, ask brief questions about your status and look at the car. A long stop or an arrest by the Border Patrol requires probable cause: you may ask what it is.[1]
At work
Do this
Stay silent and ask for a lawyer. What you say can be used against you later.[5]
If you have valid immigration papers and an officer asks for them, show them. If you don't have them, stay silent.[1][3]
Ask: "Am I free to leave?"[3]
If it is safe, record or ask someone to record what the agents do.[3][5]
Don't do this
Keep in mind
ICE can enter the public areas of a business without permission, like the parking lot, the lobby or a restaurant's dining room. Being there does not give it authority to stop or question just anyone. To enter private areas it needs a judge's warrant or the owner's permission; an administrative warrant (I-200 or I-205) is not enough.[5]
If you are detained
Do this
Say you want to remain silent and ask for a lawyer right away. Don't give explanations or excuses.[1]
Ask for the list of free or low-cost lawyers. ICE does not give you a free lawyer, but you have the right to call one and to be visited.[1][3]
If you are afraid to go back to Venezuela, say so clearly and loudly to every officer. If you don't, they may deport you without seeing a judge.[1][3]
If you have lived in the United States 2 years or more, say so and show proof. That can prevent a fast-track deportation without a judge.[3]
Tell them if you care for a child (or an adult with disabilities) who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, if you are pregnant or if you have an illness or a disability.[3]
Ask for the officer's name and phone number, and for your A-number.[3]
Ask to be released on parole or bond. If they say no, ask for a bond hearing before an immigration judge.[1][3]
If you don't understand a paper, ask for an interpreter.[1]
Don't do this
Don't sign anything without a lawyer, especially Voluntary Departure, Stipulated Removal Order or Waiver.[1][3]
Don't lie or give false information.[3]
Don't discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.[1]
If you are in jail and an immigration officer visits you, don't answer or sign anything before talking to a lawyer.[1]
Keep in mind
If they deny you a lawyer. From the detention center phone, dial code 2150# for the American Bar Association (ABA) line; the direct number is (202) 442-3363.[3][31]
Your consulate. You have the right to contact your consulate. But Venezuela closed its U.S. consulates in 2019, and as of September 12, 2026 there was still no date to reopen consular services. We do not publish consular numbers we cannot verify with an official source.[1][25]
After detention: the basics
Do this
Your A-number has 9 digits, starts with the letter A and appears on most of your immigration papers. Memorize it and give it to your family.[1][3]
Your family can find you in the ICE detainee locator with your A-number and country of birth.[10]
With the A-number you can see the next court hearing: at acis.eoir.justice.gov or at 1-800-898-7180, at any hour.[3][12]
You have the right to have your lawyer with you at any hearing before the judge. If you don't have a lawyer yet, ask for more time to find one.[1][3]
For the bond hearing, gather proof of your ties: letters from family and community, and work, school or volunteer records.[3]
Don't do this
Keep in mind
Notice of a lawsuit about bond. By order of a federal court in California, ICE posts on its locator a notice of the Maldonado Bautista class action: some detained people may be entitled to ask for release on bond or for a bond hearing. The lawyers in that case answer questions at (415) 343-0770.[10][11]
If you already have a final order of removal. Find a lawyer right away: the only way to stop it is to ask for a stay or to reopen your case.[3]
Emergency plan for your family
Prepare it today, before anything happens. Go over each point with your family.
Memorize the phone numbers of your family and of a lawyer or a help organization.[1][3]
If you have an A-number, write it down and give it to someone you trust.[1][3]
Make copies of your documents: ID, birth certificates, immigration papers and proof of how long you have lived in the U.S. Keep the originals somewhere safe and say where they are.[1][2][3]
Decide who will pick up and care for your children if you are detained, and sign in advance the legal documents your state requires to authorize it. They vary from state to state: ask a lawyer.[2][3]
If you take medication, write down which ones and keep a copy of your medical records.[1][2]
Leave instructions about your accounts, debts, rent and property.[2]
Consider signing ICE Form 60-001, which authorizes another person to ask for information about your case if you are detained.[2][27]
Talk to a lawyer or an accredited organization now: it is much easier to find help before a detention.[3]
Fill out the Spanish emergency plan form from We Have Rights, which the ACLU recommends.[2][26]
Practice the phrases in this guide out loud with your family.[3]
If a family member is detained
Look for them in the ICE locator. Go to locator.ice.gov. Search with their A-number (9 digits; if it has fewer, add zeros at the start) and country of birth, or with their exact first and last name, country and date of birth.[10]
If they don't show up. The locator only shows people in ICE custody, or in Border Patrol (CBP) custody for more than 48 hours, and it cannot search for anyone under 18. If they were arrested for a federal crime, look in the Bureau of Prisons locator (bop.gov).[3][10]
Ask for information by phone. ICE's DRIL line answers questions about detained people, with operators Monday to Friday (the number is below, under "Phone lines").[33]
Find a lawyer right away. Use the directories below: the immigration court's free list and the directory of nonprofit organizations.[13][18]
Check their court case. With their A-number, at acis.eoir.justice.gov or at 1-800-898-7180.[12]
Prepare proof for bond. Support letters from family and community, and work, school or volunteer records.[3]
Protect their papers. Don't hand the originals to anyone and don't pay a "notario".[15]
Venezuela's TPS today
Venezuela's TPS has ended for almost everyone. The 2021 TPS ended on November 7, 2025. The 2023 TPS ended on October 3, 2025, when the Supreme Court let its termination take effect. There is a lawsuit against that termination, but it has been weakened: on June 25, 2026, in a Syria and Haiti TPS case (Mullin v. Doe), the Supreme Court held that the law bars courts from reviewing those terminations except on constitutional grounds. On October 5, 2026, the Court took the Venezuela case (docket 26-48), vacated the appeals court judgment and sent it back for reconsideration in light of Mullin v. Doe. Since October 2, employers must reverify the work authorization (Form I-9) of people who relied on these documents.[7][8][9][29][30][34]
The exception expired on October 2, 2026. If you received your TPS work permit, approval notice (I-797) or I-94 with an October 2, 2026 expiration date, issued on or before February 5, 2025, those papers were valid until October 2, 2026, by order of a federal court. That date has passed, and the USCIS page on Venezuela TPS announces no extension. USCIS also mentioned an automatic extension of up to 540 days for certain permits whose renewal was filed before February 6, 2025; for permits that expired on April 2, 2025, those 540 days ended around September 24, 2026, so do not rely on it without confirming with a lawyer. If you relied on those papers, talk to a lawyer about your case now.[7][8][9]
What losing TPS means. If TPS was your only status and you have no other pending application, you no longer have permission to be in the country. The ACLU explains that this does not mean you will be detained at home or on the street, but it greatly increases the risk if you have contact with immigration.[2]
You can apply for other protection. You have the right to apply for another status or protection before or after losing TPS. According to USCIS, having had TPS can stop the clock on the one-year deadline to apply for asylum, if that deadline had not passed. Applying does not guarantee you will not be detained.[2][7]
Don't pay anyone to "renew" your TPS. USCIS says not to pay for or submit forms until it publishes an official Federal Register notice with instructions for your country.[16]
Help lines
Only nonprofits and government lines, with each number as it appears today on the organization's own page. We do not list private lawyers.
Nonprofit
Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC)[20]
Free line run by a nonprofit. You can call or text to ask for information.
- For
- Florida
- Hours
- Not listed on its page
- Languages
- Not listed on its page
Nonprofit
United We Dream: MigraWatch line[21][22]
Nationwide line to report ICE or CBP activity and get support, or to ask for help if you have problems with ICE or CBP.
- For
- All of the U.S.
- Hours
- Not listed on its page
- Languages
- Not listed on its page
Nonprofit
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)[23]
Legal consultations from a nonprofit. Detained people can call collect.
- For
- Its page does not limit the general line to one state; the collect line is for people held in ICE detention centers
- Hours
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central Time)
- Languages
- Not listed on its page
Nonprofit
American Bar Association (ABA): detention line[3][31]
Information for people in immigration detention and their families; use it if you are told you cannot talk to a lawyer.
- For
- All of the U.S.
- Hours
- Not listed on its page
- Languages
- Not listed on its page
Official government line
ICE: DRIL line (official)[33]
Government line, with live operators, for questions about detained people, removals and detention.
- For
- All of the U.S.
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern Time), except holidays
- Languages
- Not listed on its page
Official government line
Immigration court (EOIR): case status (official)[3][12][32]
Automated system: next hearing and case status with the A-number.
- For
- All of the U.S.
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, every day
- Languages
- English and Spanish
How to find a real lawyer
Trustworthy directories
- Immigration court list of free legal service providers (EOIR)
Nonprofits and lawyers who commit to free work before each immigration court. Published every quarter.[13]
- National Immigration Legal Services Directory
Only nonprofits offering free or low-cost services. Search by state, county, ZIP code or detention center; available in Spanish.[18]
- CLINIC affiliate directory
Catholic and community nonprofit programs with lawyers or Justice Department accredited representatives, in 49 states and Washington, D.C.[19]
- AILA lawyer search
Private immigration lawyers by city, language and type of case. They charge for their services. AILA does not recommend lawyers.[15][17]
- Recognized organizations and accredited representatives (EOIR)
Official list to check that someone who is not a lawyer is authorized to handle immigration cases.[14][16]
- Lawyer licensing by state (ABA)
Each state has an agency that confirms whether a person holds a law license; the state bar shows whether they were disciplined.[16][28]
- ICE detainee locator
To find out which facility is holding a person detained by immigration.[10]
- Immigration court case status (ACIS)
Next hearing and case status, with the A-number.[12]
Beware of "notarios" and fake lawyers
A "notario" is not a lawyer. In many Latin American countries a notario is a lawyer or has legal training; in the United States, no. A notary public, an accountant or a "consultant" cannot give you immigration legal advice.[15][16]
Who can help you. Only a licensed lawyer or an accredited representative working for an organization recognized by the Justice Department.[15][16]
How to check. Ask for their full name and the state where they are licensed, and look them up with that state's bar. If they say they are an accredited representative, look them up on the official EOIR list (links above).[14][16][28]
Signs of a scam. They ask you to sign blank forms or forms with false information; they charge for forms (USCIS forms are free); they want to keep your originals; they ask you to pay by Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards, or they "guarantee" a result.[15][16]
Protect yourself. Ask for receipts and copies of everything they prepare for you and keep them. If you were scammed, report it at ReporteFraude.ftc.gov.[15][16]
Red cards are free. The ILRC warns that some people sell them on social media. Download them for free from its page.[6]
Red card to print
Print it, cut along the dotted line and fold it along the center line. Keep it in your wallet: the English side is to show the officer, through the window or under the door.[1][3][6]
Tus derechos
- No abras la puerta. Pide que pasen por debajo una orden firmada por un juez.
- Tienes derecho a guardar silencio. No respondas preguntas.
- No firmes nada sin hablar con un abogado.
- No mientas ni muestres papeles falsos.
- Muestra el otro lado de esta tarjeta al agente.
Información general, no asesoría legal · cabudare.com
To the officer
- I am exercising my right to remain silent. I will not answer your questions.
- I do not consent to your entry into my home or to any search of me, my belongings or my car.
- I will not sign anything without first speaking with a lawyer.
- I want to speak with a lawyer.
General information, not legal advice · cabudare.com
Legal notice
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change, sometimes overnight. For your case, consult a licensed immigration lawyer or an accredited representative.
Sources for this guide
- 1.ACLU, Immigrants' Rights (Know Your Rights) (Aug 4, 2026).
- 2.ACLU, Estatus de Protección Temporal (Aug 24, 2026).
- 3.National Immigration Law Center (NILC), What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration (Jan 20, 2026).
- 4.National Immigration Law Center (NILC), Warrants and Subpoenas: What to Look Out for and How to Respond (Jan 2025).
- 5.National Immigration Law Center (NILC), A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace (Mar 14, 2025).
- 6.Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas.
- 7.USCIS, Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Venezuela (Oct 23, 2025).
- 8.USCIS, Update: Supreme Court Order for TPS Venezuela (Jun 22, 2026).
- 9.ASAP (Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project), Updates about Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and DED (Oct 6, 2026).
- 10.ICE, Online Detainee Locator System.
- 11.Tribunal de Distrito de EE. UU., Distrito Central de California (aviso publicado por ICE), Aviso de demanda colectiva: Maldonado Bautista et al., N.º 5:25-cv-01873 (Feb 18, 2026).
- 12.Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Casos de Inmigración (EOIR), Immigration Court Information (May 15, 2026).
- 13.Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Casos de Inmigración (EOIR), List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers (Sep 24, 2026).
- 14.Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Casos de Inmigración (EOIR), Recognition & Accreditation (R&A) Program: roster reports (Apr 28, 2025).
- 15.Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC), Cómo evitar las estafas de inmigración y obtener ayuda real.
- 16.USCIS, Common Scams (Aug 4, 2026).
- 17.American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), AILA's Immigration Lawyer Search.
- 18.Immigration Advocates Network, National Immigration Legal Services Directory.
- 19.Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), Affiliate Directory.
- 20.Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Know Your Rights In Florida (Sep 21, 2026).
- 21.United We Dream, Guía de DACA para beneficiarios de DACA y profesionales legales – Preguntas frecuentes (Aug 28, 2026).
- 22.United We Dream, Be a MigraWatch Hotline Volunteer.
- 23.National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), Contact Us (Jul 29, 2026).
- 24.Associated Press, Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says.
- 25.Telemundo 51, Venezuela podrá acreditar diplomáticos en EEUU: ¿qué falta para reabrir los consulados? (Sep 12, 2026).
- 26.We Have Rights, Emergency Plan / Forma de preparación para emergencia.
- 27.ICE, ICE Form 60-001: Privacy Waiver Authorizing Disclosure to a Third Party.
- 28.American Bar Association (ABA), Lawyer Licensing.
- 29.Corte Suprema de EE. UU., Mullin v. Doe, No. 25-1083 (decidido el 25 de junio de 2026) (Jun 25, 2026).
- 30.Latin Times, Venezuelan TPS Expires in 6 Days — A Narrow Class, a Pending Court Case, $10.7 Billion on the Line in Florida (Sep 26, 2026).
- 31.American Bar Association (ABA), ABA Federal Free Legal Answers: Other Help.
- 32.Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Casos de Inmigración (EOIR), Customer Service Initiatives (May 29, 2025).
- 33.ICE, Contact (Oct 7, 2026).
- 34.Corte Suprema de EE. UU., Docket No. 26-48: Markwayne Mullin, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, et al., Petitioners v. National TPS Alliance, et al..