Immigrant Rights: What To Do If ICE Knocks On Your Door

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. Under legislation proposed in the city of Evanston plans, police and other city employees would be prevented from asking people about their immigration status and reporting undocumented immigrants to the federal government.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. LM Otero / AP Photo
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. Under legislation proposed in the city of Evanston plans, police and other city employees would be prevented from asking people about their immigration status and reporting undocumented immigrants to the federal government.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago and Harlingen, Texas. LM Otero / AP Photo

Immigrant Rights: What To Do If ICE Knocks On Your Door

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Fear and uncertainty are weighing heavily on many immigrants in the U.S. in the wake of President Trump’s crackdown on undocumented people and push for deportations.

New guidelines are vague, with the administration insisting they will focus on deporting undocumented immigrants who “have committed a crime or threat to public safety,” but that language leaves many wondering if they can be deported for misdemeanors or a traffic violation.

So what should immigrants — documented and undocumented — be concerned about? What options and rights do they have if ICE shows up at their home or workplace?

For answers, Morning Shift turns to Vanessa Esparza-Lopez, managing attorney for the National Immigrant Justice Center’s Immigrant Legal Defense Project, who has been giving presentations on immigrant rights in and around Chicago.