For anyone plugged into immigrant rights spaces, the past few weeks have been a perfect storm of misinformation, information overload, and speculation. In that maelstrom, organizations are providing tried and true Know Your Rights (KYR) trainings to the immigrant community of Atlanta, community leaders and allies across the state.
Know Your Rights campaigns are not new, nor are they confined to the immigrant and refugee communities. Know Your Rights trainings are based on the fact that every person in the United States, despite their immigration status, has certain constitutional rights. The trainings seek to equip people to exercise their fourth and fifth amendment rights when interacting with law enforcement and ICE at their homes, in their cars, at school, and in the workplace. People come away from a Know Your Rights session with the ability to make an informed decision about speaking to the police or ICE.
Every person in the United States has the right to remain silent when questioned by agents of any law enforcement agency. Every person has the right to ask to speak to an attorney (legal representation is allowed by immigration courts but cannot be provided at the expense of the government), and every person has the right to refuse to open the door to law enforcement who appear at a residence without a signed, complete warrant. Through role playing and short skits, participants can practice the skill of responding confidently to a visit from ICE.
And when it comes to understanding the rights that immigrants have in the U.S., some common misconceptions include:
- That only US Citizens are protected by the US Constitution
- That the police/ICE are not allowed to lie to them
- They police and ICE are absolutely allowed to lie to the public and are not required to identify themselves accurately (i.e. wearing clothing marked “POLICE” when they are ICE agents, or claiming to be investigating a different crime, or that a bad actor was seen entering the person’s home)
- That only US Citizens are allowed to speak with elected officials (or that only US Citizens are represented by elected officials)
While refugees, asylees, and documented immigrants are at a low risk of being placed in removal proceedings, New American Pathways’ goal is to ensure that the entire community is prepared and well-educated on their civic rights in the United States.
Want to learn more? Register here to attend New American Pathways’ Know Your Rights trainings and join our newsletter for news & updates.