The groups are hosting forums and distributing Know Your Rights flyers to illegal immigrants.
National and local groups in several states are hosting forums and providing resources and materials for illegal immigrants to prepare them if they encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Pro-illegal immigration groups in New York, Chicago, New Jersey, California among others have announced webinars, in-person forums, and are distributing Know Your Rights flyers to help illegal immigrants navigate the new policies under the Trump administration.
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed several executive actions related to border security and illegal immigration, including paving the way for more deportations. In one order, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, stating that “America’s sovereignty is under attack.”
The order said that the influx of illegal immigration over the past four years “has led to the horrific and inexcusable murders of many innocent American citizens, including women and children, at the hands of illegal aliens.”
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) created a flyer to be distributed and posted it on its website on Jan. 22. “All people living in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, have certain U.S. Constitutional rights,” the flyer reads. “If you are undocumented and immigration (ICE) agents knock on your door, know that you have the following rights.”
The flyer also says illegal immigrants do not have to open the door or let agents in if they do not have a search warrant signed by a judge.
In addition, the flyer says illegal immigrants have the right to remain silent, and they can show the agents a Know Your Rights card that explains they wish to remain silent and request to speak to a lawyer.
“President Trump is dragging America down with harmful policies affecting immigrants, communities across the country, the entire economy, and our standing in the world,” AILA Executive Director Ben Johnson said in a press release on Jan. 20. Trump has long emphasized his goal is to combat illegal immigration, rather than legal immigration.
His border czar, Tom Homan, said on Jan. 21 that U.S. immigration officials have already started carrying out deportations, targeting illegal immigrants who are deemed a threat to public safety.
Another national organization, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), issued a statement on Jan. 21 “in response to raids expected” in communities housing illegal immigrants across the country. “Our families, our neighbors, and our friends are facing the threat of immigration raids that tear loved ones apart and create fear in the places we call home,” Gustavo Torres, CASA’s executive director, said.
Torres said the organization has amassed a coalition of faith communities, businesses, donors, elected officials, community organizations, educators, and attorneys all ready to act.
“We organize so we’re proactive. That’s why CASA has already trained thousands in Know Your Rights sessions, family preparedness planning, and bystander intervention training sessions,” Torres said.
In California, the group Communications for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) has held more than 150 Know Your Rights workshops in community centers, schools, churches, and businesses, “speaking with immigrant families and allies concerned about their rights and steps they can take to prepare and be ready,” Jorge-Mario Cabrera, director of Communications of CHIRLA told The Epoch Times via email.
“Our campaign is called ‘Prepare to Stay’ because although worried, our community is not going to cower in fear because they have not done anything wrong,” said Cabrera.
Cabrera emphasized that immigrants have been “givers” to the United States. “It is cruel for the Trump Administration to demonize and persecute immigrants in such an indiscriminate way,” he said.
He didn’t make a distinction between legal immigrants, who Trump has repeatedly said are a benefit to America, and illegal immigrants.
“All illegal entry will immediately be halted,” Trump said at the Capitol minutes after being inaugurated on Monday. “And we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
According to Cabrera, CASA is advising the community to take it one day at a time, saying each family should prepare an action plan, including saving money for an attorney and planning on child care if a parent is detained or deported.
Activist groups in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and elsewhere are also educating illegal immigrants.
The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice launched its “New Arrivals Network” to provide Know Your Rights resources, training and materials to the top 20 cities in the state where illegal immigrants reside. In Chicago, the Instituto del Progreso Latino announced on social media platform X is planning a webinar “to help immigrants, advocates, and allies understand essential rights and protections under U.S. immigration law, potential upcoming changes, and what you can do to prepare.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also
posted the Know Your Rights flyer on the city’s website, detailing what to do if a loved one is detained.
In New York, council members are joining with the New York Legal Assistance Group Foundation for a forum scheduled on Feb. 6, “on the rights and protections for immigrants in New York City.” The presentation, according to the announcement, will cover federal and municipal immigration regulations and expectations with the new administration, in addition to resources the city offers.
ICE didn’t respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
