This guide was updated on March 20, 2025, by Yuko Kodama.
News of the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student activist with lawful permanent resident status; the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a valid H-1B visa holder, former UW Medicine fellow, and Brown University medical professor; and over 200 Venezuelan immigrants deported to El Salvador's mega-prison despite a court order from a federal judge have washed over our media feeds and sent a chill through our immigrant communities.
Meanwhile, in Washington State, Gov. Bob Ferguson ordered the creation of a Family Separation Rapid Response Team in January. Additionally, the state's Keep Washington Working Act — passed in 2019 — generally prohibits local and state law enforcement from working with ICE, though this month, State Attorney General Nick Brown sued Adams County for illegal collaboration with federal immigration officials.
According to Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), the number of people in detention at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma is over 1,400 as of yesterday, up from 700 to 800 in months past. La Resistencia, a local grassroots organization working to end the detention of immigrants and stop deportations, told the Emerald most of the new detainees were moved here from other detention centers, and the number of local people detained has not gone up considerably, but recent events have many people in our community on guard. ICE is more successful in detaining people if the community is less knowledgeable of their rights when approached by them. This South End guide provides information on your rights and available resources.
No matter your citizenship or immigration status, every person in the United States is entitled to basic rights when a government or law enforcement official arrests, tries to arrest, or "just wants to talk" to you. The Emerald put together a few guidelines of what to do based on "Know Your Rights" information from WAISN, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Mijente, and the National Immigration Law Center. If you're approached by a police officer or government official:
You have the right to remain silent and speak to a lawyer. Even if you don't have a lawyer, you can still say that you don't want to speak until you have one present.
If the police, FBI, or ICE come to your home, they do not have the right to enter unless they have a judicial warrant — an official court document signed by a judge. You don't have to open the door unless they produce this warrant. They may lie about the reason they're visiting to coerce you into opening the door; ask them to slide a warrant under the door or hold it up against a window. To be valid, the warrant must have your correct name and address on it.
Oftentimes, ICE will not have a judicial warrant, but they may enter your home anyway. Say that you do not consent to their search (this can help in court proceedings).
You do not have to sign anything or give them any documents. ICE may try to have you sign away your right to see a lawyer or a judge. You should not do so until you have spoken with an immigration attorney.
Document everything you can. If you're able, get the officers' names and badge numbers. If it is safe to do so, take photos and videos during or after the raid (if you do so during, inform the agent you're using your right to record). Write down details of everything you can remember.
To surmise, the safest thing to do when approached by ICE or any government or law enforcement officer is to stay silent and ask to speak with a lawyer.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) created a series of videos that demonstrate what to do in various scenarios, including if ICE comes to your house, confronts you on the streets, or if you're detained.
If you are confronted by ICE in Washington, report the activity to WAISN's Deportation Defense Hotline at 1-844-724-3737 (open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.). To stay up to date on ICE activity in Washington, sign up for WAISN's SMS alerts by texting "ICE" or "Migra" to 509-300-4959.
Bystanders are powerful at this moment in time — and they have rights, too. If you see someone get detained by ICE, here are some guidelines on what to do, as recommended by WAISN:
You have the legal right to film law enforcement so long as they're in a public place and you're not interfering with the arrest. "Generally, police may not confiscate or demand to view your photographs or videos without a warrant, nor may they delete your images," wrote Brian Robick, director of communications at ACLU-Washington in an email to the Emerald. "However, they may order you to cease activities that interfere with law enforcement."
Stay at a distance while filming — filming is not a crime, but interfering with an arrest is. Inform ICE that you are filming.
If the officers get too close, back up, but stay calm. Continue to say that you have the right to record.
Protect the content on your phone, and ensure your phone is passcode protected. Thumbprint or face recognition protections are easier to get into.
Focus the recording on the ICE officers — if you see their badge numbers or their names, focus on those. Narrate what you see and say the date, time, and location.
Do not go live on social media for the safety of those being detained.
Document language used by the officers, their vehicles, and any violence or physical force.
Send videos, notes, and pictures to hotline@waisn.org.
Misinformation about ICE activity has become a major issue and can spread panic through immigrant communities. This guide from WAISN provides insight on when to trust and share posts about ICE or CBP sightings.
There are a number of resources for undocumented immigrants to find legal aid:
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project provides assistance with applications for asylum, representation in deportation proceedings, and assistance with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) renewals. Eligibility requirements are listed on their website.
Washington Law Help provides general free information on access to public assistance programs, health insurance, and getting a driver's license without a social security number.
Northwest Justice Project offers free civil legal services to low-income people. In King County, call 211 for a referral to a legal aid provider (open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.).
The American Immigration Lawyers Association offers a searchable database of immigration lawyers in your area.
Asian Counseling and Referral Services provides a variety of immigration legal services to eligible Asian American and Pacific Islanders.
El Centro de la Raza hosts free bilingual (English and Spanish) legal clinics where volunteer attorneys provide 30-minute consultations to anyone seeking legal assistance. Clinics take place on the second Wednesday of every month, and attendees are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Immigration Legal Resource Center provides guides in English and Spanish about what happens in immigration court hearings.
Entre Hermanos hosts free immigration clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is actively taking immigration cases for detained and non-detained LGBTQ+ members of the Latino community.
Centro Rendu of St. Vincent de Paul offers free immigration consultations. Call to schedule an appointment.
Colectiva Legal del Pueblo gives low-cost or free immigration services for everything from help completing forms to legal representation.
It's a stressful time for undocumented immigrants, and there's no doubt that hostile policies can take a toll on your mental health. In general, you have a right to health care regardless of your immigration status. The National Immigration Law Center provides thorough information about your rights in regard to health care.
If you're seeking help, here are some safe places to turn to:
Asian Counseling and Referral Services offers counseling services, psychiatric services, and medication management as well as general case management. To determine eligibility, contact mhintake@acrs.org or call (206) 695-7511.
Lutheran Community Services Northwest provides outpatient individual and group counseling, which can also be completed via telehealth, to those coming from refugee, immigrant, and asylee backgrounds.
Immigrants Rising is hosting virtual wellness support groups led by trained mental health providers specifically for undocumented people. Advanced registration is required; the next round of wellness support groups will begin in mid-March.
Refugee Women's Alliance provides individual, family, and group counseling, psychiatric services, information and referral services, as well as workshops.
Having a plan is always a good idea and could provide some peace of mind that if the worst does end up happening, there is a protocol in place among family and friends. The Emerald put together a few guidelines of what to do based on "Know Your Rights" information from WAISN, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Mijente, the National Immigration Law Center, and the ACLU.
Even if you're held in jail, you always have the right to remain silent. Refuse to answer any questions and do not share any information unless you have a lawyer present.
Memorize the phone number of a friend, family member, or attorney that you can call if you're arrested. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer. They can listen to a call made to anyone else.
If you have children or take care of other people, make sure there's a plan for who will take care of them if you are detained.
Keep important documents, such as the birth certificates of you or your kids, in a safe place where a person you trust can access them if you're detained.
Let your loved ones know that if you are detained, they can find out your location with ICE's online locator or call the local ICE office. If you have an alien registration number from previous detention or deportation, make sure they have it written down; they'll need it to look you up.
If you have children, ensure that whoever you've designated as their emergency caregiver when you're detained is listed as their emergency contact for their daycare or schools. This Immigrant Safety Plan for Youth and Children goes into detail about everything to plan for to ensure your children are taken care of in case you're detained.
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