Trump calls off immigration deployment to Bay Area: What to know if ICE shows up at your door

OAKLAND, Calif. –  A team of federal agents from multi-agencies were sent to Coast Guard Base Alameda and began arriving on Thursday as part of President Donald Trump’s continued crackdown on immigration across the U.S.

A federal source who requested anonymity confirmed on Thursday that roughly 100 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are conducting an operation with “pre-identified” targets, which could likely include going to Home Depots around the Bay Area, as there are often undocumented immigrants there. Border Patrol is the law enforcement arm of CBP.

But after a late-night phone call with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, the White House paused the immigration operation. 

Still, despite this announcement, Trump has made clear his intentions to carry out mass deportations and to end birthright citizenship, which has guaranteed that U.S.-born babies are citizens regardless of their parents’ status.

In addition, the Trump administration announced on earlier this year that it would allow federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches and hospitals, ending a policy that had been in effect since 2011.

Immigrant rights organizations, such as the California Immigrant Policy Center, have put together a resources guide to defend community members “from threats and attacks” under the Trump administration.

“Knowing your rights calms fears in some respect,” said Bill Hing, director of the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic at the University of San Francisco. “Stay silent. You don’t have to open your door for an ICE officer unless that officer has a warrant [signed by a judge.] But honestly, there is a lot of anxiety in the community. And I think that the Trump strategy is to instill fear. And unfortunately, that’s happened.” 

Hing suggested undocumented people seek the counsel of “competent, honest” legal counsel or an immigration consultant to see if there is indeed a pathway to lawful permanent resident status. Some of those lawyers can be found through the National Immigration Legal Services Directory. 

What to do if ICE shows up at your door

What you can do:

Here are some tips if ICE shows up at your door: 

• The right to remain silent – it’s OK to refuse to speak to ICE. Immigrant rights advocates say not to answer any questions including where you were born or how you entered the United States.
• The National Immigration Law Center advises that people carry a know-your-rights card,  also known as  a “red card, or “tarjetas rojas,” as well as any valid immigration document, and show them if an immigration officer stops you. Red cards in Spanish can be found at the bottom of this page, or you can order one here.  Know-your-rights cards can be printed here.  
• The center also advises that you not open your door simply because ICE agents tell you to. ICE officials must have a warrant signed by a judge, not a deportation officer, to enter your home. To be valid, a warrant must have your correct name and address on it, according to the National Immigration Law Center. Ask the person at your door to slip the warrant under the door to see who it was signed by. If it was not signed by a judge, the Asian Law Caucus said to tell the officers you do not consent to a search and call your rapid response hotline. (*See numbers below)
• Immigrants also have a right to speak to their lawyers, and advocates say not to sign any document before speaking to a lawyer. You can simply say, “I need to speak to my attorney.” A list of lawyers can be found here. 
• Immigration advocates advise that parents tell ICE agents that they have children if they’re worried about being arrested.
• Create a safety plan such as memorizing the phone number of family and friends you can call if you’re arrested, figure out who will watch your children if you’re detained, and keep important documents, like birth certificates, in a safe place that family and friends can access if necessary. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center put together a step-by-step family preparedness plan. 
• Make sure your loved ones know how to find you in an ICE detention center by looking online. Be sure they know your alien registration number.
• Do not carry documents about your country of origin.
• Do not carry fake immigration documents or IDs.
• Report and document raids and arrests. One hotline is the United We Dream’s hotline to report a raid: 1-844-363-1423. Or texts can be sent to 877877.
• If ICE calls or sends a letter to reschedule a check-in, that can often mean they want to detain you. You can call the Asian Law Caucus at 415-896-1701 for legal advice and updates on whether raids are happening elsewhere.
• If you feel your rights have been violated, write down everything you remember, including the officers’ badges and patrol cars numbers, which agency the officers work for. Get contact information for witnesses. If you get injured, the ACLU reminds you to take pictures of your injuries and file a written complaint with the agency’s internal affairs unit.