If immigration agents (ICE) come to your door, the core guidance from civil rights and immigrant-rights groups is: keep the door closed, do not let them in unless they show a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge, and use your right to remain silent and to speak to a lawyer first. This applies whether you have papers or not, and it also applies to U.S. citizens who live in the home.

First steps at the door

  • Stay calm, keep the door closed, and do not let them step inside your home.
  • Ask who they are through the closed door or a window and request that they show identification; you can ask them to slide ID under the door or hold it up to a window.
  • You do not have to open the door just because they knock or say “police” or “ICE.”

Warrants: what really matters

  • ICE cannot enter your home without consent or a judicial warrant signed by a judge that has the correct name and address.
  • “ICE warrants” or forms signed only by ICE or DHS officers (not a judge) do not give them authority to enter a private home without your permission.
  • If they say they have a warrant, ask them to slide it under the door or show it through a window, and check: judge’s signature, your correct name, and the correct address and date.

What to say (and not say)

  • You have the right to remain silent; you do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the country.
  • If they do not have a valid judicial warrant, you can say something like: “I do not consent to your entry,” and keep the door closed.
  • Do not sign any papers or documents they give you without speaking to a lawyer, because you could be signing away rights or agreeing to deportation.

Safety planning and family prep

  • Rights groups recommend a basic safety plan if you think you are at risk, such as: a list of emergency contacts, a plan for childcare, and a safe place for important documents.
  • Teach children and other household members not to open the door to anyone claiming to be police or immigration, and to call a trusted adult instead.
  • Keep key phone numbers (lawyer, community hotline, trusted friend or relative) written down and memorized in case phones are taken.

If they enter or detain you

  • If ICE enters without your permission or without a valid judicial warrant, you can clearly state: “I do not consent to you being in my home,” but do not physically interfere.
  • If you are detained, you still have the right to remain silent and to ask for an attorney, and it is strongly recommended that you do not sign anything before getting legal advice.
  • When safe, community and legal organizations suggest documenting the encounter (time, location, badge numbers, what they said) or recording video if your local law allows it.

Important note: This is general “know your rights” information, not legal advice for your specific case. For personalized guidance, contact a qualified immigration attorney or a local immigrant-rights organization in your area.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.