Situation card · Know your rights
Detained by ICE: what to do and how to find someone
What to say if immigration agents detain you, and how to find a family member who has been detained.
The 10-second version: say this
Diga o muestre la frase en inglés. Debajo está lo que significa. Traducción de Hope for Americans.
- I am exercising my right to remain silent.Ejerzo mi derecho a guardar silencio.
- I will not sign anything without a lawyer.No voy a firmar nada sin un abogado.
- I want to speak to a lawyer.Quiero hablar con un abogado.
- I want to contact my country's consulate.Quiero comunicarme con el consulado de mi país.
Memorize one phone number of someone you trust. If you fear going back to your country, talk to a lawyer before you contact your consulate.Memorice el número de teléfono de alguien de confianza. Si teme volver a su país, consulte a un abogado antes de contactar al consulado.
Do
- Memorize a lawyer's or family member's phone number.
- Keep your A-number where family can find it.
- Ask for a list of free legal services.
- Tell family where your important papers are.
Don't
- Don't sign forms you don't understand.
- Don't lie or show false documents.
- Don't discuss how you entered the U.S. with anyone but your lawyer.
- Don't pay anyone who promises a fast release.
Practice saying it
Saying it out loud a few times makes it easier to remember under stress. Nothing is saved.
I am exercising my right to remain silent.
I will not sign anything without a lawyer.
I want to speak to a lawyer.
I want to contact my country's consulate.
If you are detained
- You have the right to remain silent.
- Do not sign papers without a lawyer. Some forms can give up your right to see an immigration judge. They can lead to fast deportation.
- Ask to speak to a lawyer. Ask for the list of free legal services.
- You can ask to contact your country's consulate.
- If you fear going back to your country, talk to a lawyer before you contact your consulate.
- Bond means release while your case goes on. Since 2025, the government says many people who entered without permission cannot get bond from a judge.
- Courts disagree, and the answer can depend on where you are held. Ask a lawyer right away.
A lawyer in immigration court
- Immigration court is not criminal court.
- You can have a lawyer, but the government does not pay for one. You must find one yourself. This comes from federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1362).
- Free and low-cost legal groups help many people. The directory under "Get help" lists them.
- Only a lawyer or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice can give immigration legal advice. A "notario" cannot.
If a family member is detained
- Search for them with ICE's Online Detainee Locator, listed under "Get help."
- The best search uses their A-number and country of birth.
- A search by name must be spelled exactly, with their country of birth.
- People under 18 do not appear in the locator.
- Contact a nonprofit legal group as soon as you can.
- Do not pay anyone who promises a fast release.
Plan ahead
- An A-number is the 7- to 9-digit number on immigration papers. It starts with the letter A.
- In the ICE locator, add zeros at the front to make 9 digits.
- Write your A-number and a lawyer's phone number where family can find them.
- Decide who can care for your children if you are detained. Tell their school who that person is.
- Some states have forms that let you name a caregiver for your children. Ask a local legal group.
- The government can deport some people without a judge if they cannot prove they have lived here for 2 years. Court challenges continue.
- If you have lived here 2 years or more, keep proof where you can reach it. Examples are leases, pay stubs, and school records.
Common questions
How do I find someone detained by ICE?
Use ICE's Online Detainee Locator at ice.gov/locator. The best search uses the person's A-number and country of birth. A name search must be spelled exactly. People under 18 do not appear in it.
Can someone detained by ICE get bond?
Sometimes. Since 2025, the government says many people who entered without permission cannot get bond from a judge. Courts disagree, and it can depend on where the person is held. Ask a lawyer right away.
Do immigrants get a free lawyer in immigration court?
No. Federal law lets you have a lawyer in immigration court, but not at the government's expense. Free and low-cost legal groups help many people. The Sixth Amendment's right to a lawyer covers criminal cases.
Should I sign papers ICE gives me?
Not without talking to a lawyer first. Some forms can give up your right to see an immigration judge. They can lead to fast deportation. You can say: "I will not sign anything without a lawyer."
Can I contact my consulate if I am detained?
Yes. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can ask to contact your country's consulate. You can also ask officers to tell the consulate that you are detained. If you fear going back to your country, talk to a lawyer first.
The law you are citing
Fifth Amendment (1791): You cannot be forced to be a witness against yourself. No person can lose their liberty without due process, meaning fair legal procedures.
nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law
In Zadvydas v. Davis (2001), the Supreme Court said due process applies to everyone in the U.S., whatever their status.
Fourteenth Amendment (1868): States must give every person due process and equal protection of the laws.
nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Get help
- Find someone detained by ICEICE Online Detainee Locator
- Find free or low-cost immigration legal helpNational Immigration Legal Services Directory