What to Do If Immigration Comes to Your Door

Short answer: If immigration agents come to your door, do not open it. Speak through the door, ask who they are and ask to see a warrant signed by a judge. Only a judicial warrant lets them enter without your permission; an administrative immigration warrant does not. You can stay silent, sign nothing and ask for a lawyer.

Everyone in the United States has these rights, whatever their immigration status. You are not required to open the door unless the agents have a warrant signed by a judge. A judicial warrant names a court and carries a judge's signature. An administrative immigration warrant, signed by an immigration officer, does not give agents the right to enter your home. You can ask them to slide the paper under the door or hold it up to a window so you can read it calmly. Do not lie, do not show false documents and do not run. The best protection is a plan your family makes ahead of time, with the phone number of a lawyer or a trusted legal organization close at hand.

What rights do I have if immigration comes to my home?

You have rights, regardless of your immigration status:

1. The right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born or your immigration status.
2. The right to keep the door closed. Agents need a warrant signed by a judge to enter without your consent.
3. The right to a lawyer. You can say you want to speak with a lawyer before answering questions.
4. The right not to sign. Do not sign any document you do not understand, especially without legal advice.

What should I do, step by step?

1. Stay calm and keep the door closed

• Do not open the door, not even a little
• Do not run or hide
• Speak through the door or a window

2. Ask who they are

Ask: "Who are you and why are you here?"

3. Ask for a warrant signed by a judge

Say: "I do not consent to your entry. Do you have a warrant signed by a judge?"

Important: Only a judicial warrant (signed by a judge) allows immigration agents to enter your home without your permission. An administrative warrant (signed by an immigration officer) does not give them that right.

4. Check the warrant without opening the door

If they say they have a warrant:

• Ask them to slide it under the door or show it through a window
• Check that it is signed by a judge, not an immigration officer
• Check that the address is your home
• Check whether your name is on it

5. If they have a valid judicial warrant

• They may enter, but only the areas the warrant covers
• You still have the right to remain silent
• Say: "I want to speak to a lawyer"
• Do not answer questions without a lawyer

6. If they do not have a valid judicial warrant

• Say: "I do not consent to your entry"
• Keep the door closed
• If agents enter anyway, do not resist. Say calmly that you do not consent, and later tell a lawyer exactly what happened

How can I tell if a warrant lets them come in?

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) explains in its know your rights flyer that immigration agents cannot enter your home without a valid judicial warrant, and that an immigration (administrative) warrant does not give them authority to enter or search your home. If agents say they have a warrant, the ILRC recommends not opening the door at all. Ask them to slide it under the door or show it through a window.

The ACLU draws the same line between a judicial warrant signed by a judge and an administrative immigration warrant (Forms I-200 or I-205). If you are not sure which document you were shown, take a photo of it if you can and ask an immigration lawyer or an accredited representative for help.

What should I write down while it is happening?

If you can do it safely, keep a simple record:

• The names and badge numbers of the agents
• The date and time
• What they said and what papers they showed
• Photos or video, if you can take them without interfering

A written record helps a lawyer understand exactly what happened.

What should I avoid doing?

• Do not lie. You can stay silent, but a false answer can hurt your case.
• Do not show false documents. That is a crime.
• Do not run. It can be dangerous and can make your situation worse.
• Do not resist physically. It can lead to more charges.
• Do not sign anything you do not understand without legal advice.

What should I do if I am arrested?

1. Say: "I want to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer."
2. Do not sign anything without understanding it.
3. Do not discuss your immigration status without a lawyer.
4. Remember your A-number (Alien Registration Number) if you have one.

Your family can ask which facility you are being taken to, write down the arresting officer's name and contact an immigration lawyer right away.

How do I prepare my family calmly?

The ILRC has a step-by-step family preparedness plan in English and Spanish. Its recommendations include:

• Update the emergency contacts at your children's school and daycare.
• Memorize, or carry with you, the phone number of the person you would call in an emergency.
• Choose a trusted adult who could care for your children, and talk with that person ahead of time.
• Write down your children's medical conditions, allergies, medicines and doctor's information, and leave copies with the school and with the person who would care for them.
• Keep your country's consulate contact information handy.
• Talk to a trusted legal provider. The ILRC treats that consultation as a key part of the plan.

For your children's care, ask a legal organization in your state which document is right for naming a caregiver. Do not sign a general power of attorney without advice.

Keep copies of important papers in a safe place someone you trust can reach: passports or IDs, birth certificates (yours and your children's) and immigration papers.

The ILRC also offers "red cards" you can download and print. Keep one near your door and one in your wallet.

Are immigration agents the same as the police?

No. Police enforce local and state laws. Immigration agents enforce federal immigration law. You have the same rights with both. You can stay silent, you do not have to let anyone in without a warrant signed by a judge, and you can ask for a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

Can immigration enter my home without a warrant? Not without your consent, unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. An administrative immigration warrant is not enough.

What if immigration stops me on the street? You have the same rights. You can stay silent and ask to speak with a lawyer.

Can I record immigration agents? In general, yes, in your own home and in public places, as long as you do not interfere with what they are doing.

What if I have children who are U.S. citizens? Tell the agents if there are children at home, and make sure your family plan names a trusted adult who can care for them.

How can Conexion-es help me prepare?

• 📋 Know your rights: guides in Spanish and English, including your rights at home
• 🤖 AI assistant: orientation at any hour, in Spanish or English (not legal advice)
• 👨‍⚖️ Legal help: find an immigration attorney or an accredited representative
• 📱 Emergency contacts (Premium): one button alerts your trusted contacts with your location by SMS and WhatsApp, for any urgent situation (set it up)

Additional resources

• ILRC: Know your rights when confronted by ICE
• ILRC: Family preparedness plan
• ACLU: Immigrants' rights
• Immigration Advocates Network legal directory

Disclaimer: This information is for orientation only and is not legal advice. Talk with a qualified immigration attorney or an accredited representative about your situation.