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Know Your Rights and Immigration Information Access: ICE

Increase information access for students and the community on immigration and civil rights.

Disclaimer

The Know Your Rights and Immigration Information resources are not legal advice. If you need to consult with an attorney, you may wish to contact the legal services organizations listed here to receive an attorney referral. We cannot recommend a specific attorney.

Library staff cannot provide services that might be interpreted as the unauthorized practice of law such as interpreting statutes or giving legal advice. Information provided by the library or library staff is not a substitute for legal advice.

Librarians are not lawyers. Any legal information found in this online guide is for learning purposes only and individuals choose how they decide to use it. 

Online Detainee Locator System

ICE information

  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a law enforcement agency that must follow the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the laws of the United States.
  • 8 U.S. Code § 1357 defines what powers immigration officers and employees hold under the law.
  • ICE can use two different types of warrants:
    • administrative warrants, which are signed by an ICE agent or official
      • This warrant does not give ICE the right to enter private spaces without consent.
    • warrants signed by a judge
      • This type of warrant gives ICE the right to enter into private spaces without consent.

WARRANTS AND SUBPOENAS

People Over Papers

Preparation

Knowing how to identify ICE:

  • ICE agents often misrepresent themselves as local police or probation officers through uniforms and fake stories. 
  • To verify whether or not an officer is from ICE:
    • Look at their uniforms. ICE agents typically wear civilian or plain clothing. Their shirts may say “Police” on the front or back. Local police wear distinctive uniforms with a badge and other insignia.
    • Ask to see proof of who they are, such as a business card or badge. 
    • There are administrative warrants that ICE will try to pass off based on people not knowing the difference between a judicial and administrative warrant. Ask if the agents have a warrant signed by a judge.
    • Look at their vehicle. ICE agents often use unmarked cars rather than police vehicles. 

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