• Go with a group or buddy you trust—stay together and have a plan to reunite if separated.

• Wear nondescript clothing (no logos or identifying symbols) and comfortable shoes for walking or running.

  • While covering your face may help protect your privacy, you can become subject to laws prohibiting face masks. Check with your local ACLU affiliate for guidance in your area.

• Bring only essentials: water, snacks, mask, first aid, emergency contacts, and a fully charged phone (preferably with location tracking off).

  • Replace your phone password with a code or letter password. Aggressors, Law Enforcement, and ICE agents may unlawfully attempt to forcefully use your fingerprint or Face ID.

• Do not lie to law enforcement or immigration officers—silence is safer. Lies can be used against you in legal events.

• Don’t answer questions about immigration status unless your lawyer is present.

  • Carry a “Know Your Rights” card with a lawyer’s contact info.

• Write a legal aid number on your arm in permanent marker in case your phone is taken or you are detained.

• Avoid wearing contact lenses—tear gas or pepper spray can cause more damage if trapped under lenses.

• Stay on public property to avoid trespassing charges, and follow all lawful orders to disperse when issued. Avoid being on the streets or roads, as road-rage drivers or aggressors may attempt to hit you with a car.

• Be alert to your surroundings, including potential agitators, undercover officers, and exit routes.

• Do not engage with aggressive individuals—document incidents, but prioritize your safety.

If you see an ICE raid possibly happening, unmarked cars, or ICE agents in your area, call a hotline to report the sighting. This helps mobilize area organizations to help provide immediate assistance. 

Text JOIN to 877-322-2299, and reply with your zip code to get alerts for ICE activity in your area from the Stop ICE Raids Alert Network. (You can also text REPORT to 877-322-2299 to report ICE activity.)

Record any and all information you can in a video or by writing things down. Get information from the person being detained (name, phone number, a phone number of a loved one, their address, etc.), as well as badge numbers of ICE agents, license plate numbers, and car details like color, make, model, and any distinguishing features.

If you can physically act as a translator or interpreter between immigrant communities and authorities, use that privilege to help!

For people who are not comfortable with protesting on the front lines, there is still plenty that you can do.

The Immigrant Legal Resources Center provides a myriad of resources for immigrant communities and supporters alike. These include:

• Legal listservs to find trusted immigration legal support in your area or direct community members to

• Print-at-home Know Your Rights cards — in nine different languages — that can be easily downloaded, printed, and distributed in any community 

• A Know Your Rights toolkit, full of helpful video and written tutorials to know and share

This applies to everyone, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

1. Stay calm and do not resist — keep your hands visible and avoid sudden movements.

2. Ask if you are free to go — if yes, walk away calmly.

3. If not free to go, say clearly: “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”

4. Do not answer questions or give explanations without a lawyer present.

5. Do not consent to any searches of your person, belongings, or phone.

6. Ask for a lawyer immediately.

7. Do not lie — it is better to stay silent than to give false information.

8. If you are a non-citizen, do not discuss your immigration status or country of origin.

9. Remember what the officers look like, their badge numbers, and where the arrest took place.

10. Write down everything you remember as soon as possible after release.

11. Contact a legal support hotline or bail fund if you haven’t already arranged one in advance.

12. Do not sign anything without reading it carefully or without your lawyer.

Filipino Americans and other immigrants—whether undocumented, visa holders, or permanent residents—still have constitutional rights, including the right to peacefully protest. However, your immigration status can increase your legal risk, so it’s important to take extra precautions:

Know Before You Go:

• Avoid arrest at all costs. Any criminal charge, even a minor one, can affect your immigration case, visa renewal, or eligibility for permanent residency or citizenship.

• Do not carry foreign passports or immigration documents unless absolutely necessary.

• Do not disclose your immigration status to law enforcement or other protestors.

• Memorize or write down an immigration attorney’s number and give it to a trusted contact.

If You’re Detained:

• Say clearly: “I want to remain silent.”

• Do not sign anything or consent to searches.

• Ask to speak with your lawyer and contact an immigration legal aid group like RAICES Texas or Asian Texans for Justice.

• If you fear ICE involvement, do not admit to being born outside the U.S. or provide country of origin without counsel present.

Safer Ways to Support:

• Help with mutual aid, supplies, legal observing, or translation if protesting carries too much risk.

• Attend virtual rallies, phone banking, or community organizing activities.

• Share protest safety info and legal resources in Tagalog or other accessible formats for your community.

Remember: Exercising your rights matters—but doing so safely and strategically is key when immigration status is a concern.