ICE Encounter Guide
Know Your Rights.
Stay Safe.
Call Us First.
If you or someone you know is facing an ICE encounter, detention, or deportation threat — do not panic. This page gives you clear, step-by-step guidance and our team is one phone call away, available 6am–6pm, 7 days a week.
Your rights apply regardless of your immigration status. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to refuse entry without a signed judicial warrant. These rights cannot be taken from you.
3 Things to Do Right Now
Stay Calm & Stay Silent
You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, country of birth, or how you entered the US. Say: "I am exercising my right to remain silent."
Do Not Open the Door
Unless officers present a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you are not required to open your door. Ask them to slide it under the door or show it through a window.
Call Our Helpline
Call (475) 237-7351 immediately. Our rapid response team will connect you with a lawyer, document the encounter, and mobilize support.
Step-by-Step Guide
What to Do in Each Situation
Select the situation that applies to you. These steps are reviewed by immigration attorneys and updated regularly.
In an emergency right now? Don't read — call us.
Constitutional Protections
Know Your Rights
These rights apply to every person in the United States — citizen, visa holder, green card holder, or undocumented. Know them. Use them.
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. This applies to everyone — regardless of status.
Right to Refuse Entry
ICE cannot enter your home without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. An administrative warrant (I-200, I-205) from DHS is NOT enough. You can refuse entry through a closed door.
Right to an Attorney
You have the right to speak with an immigration attorney before answering questions or signing any documents. You can request this at any point during an encounter or after detention.
Right to Refuse to Sign
You do not have to sign anything. Voluntary departure forms and other documents can permanently affect your case. Never sign without consulting an attorney first.
Right to Document
You have the right to record law enforcement officers in public spaces as long as you do not interfere with their actions. This documentation can be crucial for your legal case.
Right to Designate a Caregiver
If you have children, you have the right to designate a trusted adult to care for them if you are detained. Prepare this in advance with a signed emergency authorization document.
Key Phrases — EN | ES | PT
Say these clearly and calmly during any encounter
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Critical Warnings
What NOT to Do
Mistakes made in a panic can have serious long-term consequences. Review these before an emergency happens.
Do NOT open your door
Opening the door can be interpreted as consent to enter. Speak through a closed door or window.
Do NOT run or resist
Running or physically resisting can lead to additional charges and may escalate a dangerous situation. Stay calm and invoke your rights verbally.
Do NOT sign any documents
Signing voluntary departure forms or other documents without legal advice can permanently bar you from returning to the US or waive critical rights.
Do NOT lie to officers
Lying to federal officers is a federal crime. If you choose not to answer, exercise your right to remain silent — simply repeat: "I am exercising my right to remain silent."
Do NOT show your phone without a warrant
Officers need a judicial warrant to search your phone. If asked, you can say: "I do not consent to a search of my phone."
Do NOT reveal your immigration status
You are not required to disclose your status, country of birth, or how you entered the country. This information can be used against you in immigration proceedings.
Register with Us
Put Your Family on Our Rapid Response List
Register your family with Danbury Unites so that if you call in an emergency, our team already has your case information, attorney contact, and family designee on file. This saves critical minutes when every second counts.
Our Network
How Our Rapid Response Works
When you call, you're not just getting a voicemail. You're activating a whole network of trained people ready to help.
You Call (475) 237-7351
A real person answers 6am–6pm, 7 days a week — no automated system. Our on-call responder immediately begins gathering information about the situation.
Ground Team Mobilized
If there is an active ICE presence, our rapid response volunteers are deployed to document the encounter, notify neighbors, and establish a safety perimeter.
Documentation & Case File
Every detail is recorded: officer badge numbers, agency, time, location, and witness accounts. This documentation becomes the foundation of your legal defense.
Family Support Activated
We check on children, contact the designated family caregiver, and connect your family with immediate support services — food, housing, translation — if needed.
Legal Case Begins
Our legal team files for a bond hearing, gathers evidence, and begins building your defense. We stay with you from this first call through your final court date.