Foreigners in the U.S. who are without lawful status or are unlawfully present in the US are under threat.  ICE can issue you a notice to appear in immigration court for removal proceedings. In some cases, ICE will come to your home or workplace and put you in detention while removal proceedings are initiated against you.

Sleeping Arrangements

If you have a case pending and are taking the right steps to try and become lawfully present in the U.S., it can help to sleep in a different home at night temporarily if it is advertised that ICE is roving your city in a show of force.  Sometimes a pending status puts you in a safety zone, but not always. It helps to check with your attorney and confirm whether you are subject to removal in your case.

What to do When Caught

For those caught at home, it is likely not a good idea to give over your passport or even acknowledge your nationality.  Let ICE identify you and take you. It’s more difficult to deport you without your passport than if you turn it over to ICE.  You should not lie to an immigration officer, but it’s up to ICE to do its job. You don’t need to make things easy. Ask to speak with a lawyer.  You have a right to a lawyer, but just not a right to have that lawyer paid by the government.

Participate in Immigration Process

Under all circumstances, make sure you monitor your mail and keep the immigration agencies up to date on your primary residence address.  You very often have immigration defenses in immigration court. You don’t want to have an order of deportation made against you for failure to appear in court because you didn’t receive the notice in the mail.  Instead, you should want to participate in immigration process and pursue your lawful options.