The White House boasts that deportation flights have ramped up. Although Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston have said they will only permit state and city resources to help ICE arrest undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes, other civic leaders across the state have pledged to help federal law enforcement.
The largest confirmed ICE raid in Colorado since Trump took office involved the Drug Enforcement Agency and the arrest of fifty suspected Tren de Aragua members in a warehouse in Adams County, at the 6600 block of Federal Boulevard on Sunday, January 26.
The Colorado Rapid Response Network has verified ICE activity in Brighton and Loveland on Tuesday, January 28, with agents knocking on doors and detaining at least one person in Broughton on Wednesday, as well. This is the only activity CRRN has verified outside of the raid and arrest of suspected TdA members in Adams County on Sunday.
However, more raids could happen in the Denver area soon, although the Aurora raids anticipated to start today, January 30, have reportedly been postponed; the Department of Defense had been working to convert the Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora to a detention center for “criminal aliens.”
If you're afraid of deportations and need help sorting through the flood of information, here are three pieces of advice from organizations that want to help, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.
The largest confirmed ICE raid in Colorado since Trump took office involved the Drug Enforcement Agency and the arrest of fifty suspected Tren de Aragua members in a warehouse in Adams County, at the 6600 block of Federal Boulevard on Sunday, January 26.
The Colorado Rapid Response Network has verified ICE activity in Brighton and Loveland on Tuesday, January 28, with agents knocking on doors and detaining at least one person in Broughton on Wednesday, as well. This is the only activity CRRN has verified outside of the raid and arrest of suspected TdA members in Adams County on Sunday.
However, more raids could happen in the Denver area soon, although the Aurora raids anticipated to start today, January 30, have reportedly been postponed; the Department of Defense had been working to convert the Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora to a detention center for “criminal aliens.”
If you're afraid of deportations and need help sorting through the flood of information, here are three pieces of advice from organizations that want to help, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.
You Don't Have to Talk to ICE or Reveal Your Status
Undocumented immigrants in the United States have constitutional rights like U.S. citizens, including the right to a fair trial and to remain silent during an arrest. Immigrant support groups recommend keeping in mind when confronted by ICE agents.According to the ACLU, an attorney will not be provided for you in immigration court, but you do have the right to be represented by an attorney you find on your own.
Many organizations recommend remaining silent when being confronted or asked questions by ICE agents. You don't have to confess your immigration status, the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), a legal aid group.
The City of Denver and ACLU recommend at least stating “I am going to remain silent" or a similar phrase when questioned by ICE. The ACLU and CIRC also recommend to refuse to sign anything from ICE agents.
The NIJC advises staying calm when confronted by ICE: "Don't run, argue, resist or fight the officer," according to the group. The NIJC also warns against lying about anything, especially about your immigration status, as agents can use that in court to argue in favor of your deportation.
Undocumented immigrants have the right to question ICE agents, according to the NIJC. If stopped while driving, you can ask a law enforcement officer if they work for ICE, as many might identify themselves just as police, the NIJC warns. If an ICE agent or any other law enforcement officer arrests you, you have the right to know why you're being detained, adds Motion Law, a national law firm.
You're also allowed to ask ICE agents to show you a warrant to enter your home, according to CIRC, and you don't have to let ICE agents search your home unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. Some ICE agents will have warrants signed by another ICE official, but groups like CIRC and the ACLU stress that these don't grant agents the authority to enter your home without your consent.
You're also allowed to ask ICE agents to show you a warrant to enter your home, according to CIRC, and you don't have to let ICE agents search your home unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. Some ICE agents will have warrants signed by another ICE official, but groups like CIRC and the ACLU stress that these don't grant agents the authority to enter your home without your consent.
The website We Have Rights has a series of animated videos in Spanish showing what to do when arrested and questioned by ICE. It also has advice on recording or documenting arrests and raids, and what to do when agents are in your house or community.
You Can Find Out About ICE Activity Online or by Phone
If you want to find out if an ICE raid is taking place somewhere in Colorado, call 1-844-864-8341, a 24/7 hotline run by the Colorado Rapid Response Network (CRRN). CIRC, which helps run the hotline, recommends noting the date and time of ICE activity when reporting to the hotline and adding descriptions of the vehicles and the agents, including how many were present.
The CRRN tries to verify whether the event was an ICE raid by going to locations of reported activity, interviewing people there and looking at photos and videos. It posts updates on Facebook about reported activity and additional information.
If you want to find out if a loved one has been arrested by ICE, you can find out at locator.ice.gov, but the website only has information on people in ICE custody for more than 48 hours.
Identify an Attorney and a Guardian In Case You're Detained
Undocumented immigrants should seek out legal advice for help creating a family preparedness plan in case they or a loved one is detained by ICE. The U.S. Department of Justice created a list of pro-bono or free legal services in Colorado for immigrants to seek for consultations and planning that was updated this month.
Family preparedness plans start with picking a trusted family member or friend with a legal immigration status to have power of attorney for you if you're detained, according to Informed Immigrant, a national educational website. With power of attorney, they can access what will be off limits to you while detained, including your mail and the money in your bank account, to help you continue caring for your family and coordinate your legal defense, according to Informed Immigrant.
For undocumented parents with children who are U.S. citizens and under the age of eighteen, the NIJC and Informed Immigrant recommend having a guardian selected in case you're deported. Justia, a legal information website, explains that children of undocumented immigrants can be transferred into the foster system if their parents are deported, but you can get ahead of that by working with an attorney to appoint a guardian.
The Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center has a printable packet to guide you through a family preparedness plan. It includes a list of pro-immigrant organizations with their contact information, legal forms needed to appoint the power of attorney or a legal guardian, and blank forms to jot down and store important information like medical history, identification numbers and phone numbers. The ACLU recommends not handing over family preparedness plans to ICE.
Family preparedness plans start with picking a trusted family member or friend with a legal immigration status to have power of attorney for you if you're detained, according to Informed Immigrant, a national educational website. With power of attorney, they can access what will be off limits to you while detained, including your mail and the money in your bank account, to help you continue caring for your family and coordinate your legal defense, according to Informed Immigrant.
For undocumented parents with children who are U.S. citizens and under the age of eighteen, the NIJC and Informed Immigrant recommend having a guardian selected in case you're deported. Justia, a legal information website, explains that children of undocumented immigrants can be transferred into the foster system if their parents are deported, but you can get ahead of that by working with an attorney to appoint a guardian.
The Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center has a printable packet to guide you through a family preparedness plan. It includes a list of pro-immigrant organizations with their contact information, legal forms needed to appoint the power of attorney or a legal guardian, and blank forms to jot down and store important information like medical history, identification numbers and phone numbers. The ACLU recommends not handing over family preparedness plans to ICE.
