All individuals in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status.

What “mass deportations” might look like 

President-elect Donald Trump has threatened our communities by promising “mass deportations” of immigrants. One of the tools the Trump administration may use is an expansion of the “expedited removal” program, combined with raids in neighborhoods and workplaces. Using expedited removal, an immigration officer may quickly deport individuals without due process if the government establishes that they entered the United States without immigration documents and have been in the country for less than two years. People deported under expedited removal may be detained and deported without appearing before an immigration judge.

Other immigrants – regardless of how long they have been in the United States – may also experience immigration enforcement and removal. Anyone without secure immigration status may be subject to enforcement efforts. People who were ordered deported in the past and people who have had contact with the criminal legal system are at particular risk.

5 things you can do now to protect yourself and your loved ones

1. Seek a legal consultation

• With private attorneys: Call the American Immigration Lawyers Association at 1-800-954-0254 for a referral. 
• With nonprofit organizations that employ U.S. licensed attorneys or Department of Justice accredited representatives: A list of these organizations can be found at https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/ or Get Help | Illinois Access to Justice.

2. Create a safety plan 

• Identify your emergency contacts and memorize their phone numbers. 
• Provide your child’s school or day care with an emergency contact to pick up your child.  
• Provide authorization in writing for your emergency contact to make medical and legal decisions for your child. 
• Tell your loved ones that if you are detained by ICE, they can try to use ICE’s online detainee locator to find you: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search 
• Read more about guardianship considerations for immigrants in Illinois (PDF). Read more about guardianship considerations for immigrants in Indiana (PDF). 

3. Collect your documents in a safe place

• Keep your identity information and financial information in a safe location. 
• Gather documents showing the length of time you have been in the United States; the most recent two years are most important. This can include U.S. income tax returns, utility bills, leases, school records, medical records, bank records, or other documents.  
• Make sure your emergency contact can access all of these documents. 
• Read and practice NIJC’s guidance on what to do if you encounter ICE in your community. 

4. Avoid immigration fraud 

• Only seek legal advice from an attorney or an accredited representative at a Department of Justice-recognized nonprofit organization. 
• Lawyers must have a license from a U.S. state to practice law. Ask to see their law license. Law licenses from other countries do not authorize the practice of law in the United States.  
• Accredited representatives must be accredited and work for a nonprofit agency recognized by the Department of Justice – ask to see their accreditation documents. 
• Never sign an application with false information.  
• Never sign a blank form.  
• Ask for copies of everything you sign. 
• If the advice sounds too good to be true, get a second opinion before filing an immigration application. 
• Read NIJC’s full guidance on how to avoid immigration fraud.

5. Be alert for digital scams 

• Be skeptical of social media posts promising new or quick immigration relief. 
• The U.S. government (including Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and State Department) will never contact you via WhatsApp or social media.   
• With limited exceptions, such as people who are released from detention and told they must check in with ICE via telephone, the U.S. government generally does not contact individuals by phone. 
• If you receive an unexpected message or phone call from someone who claims they are an immigration officer or other government official, do not respond or share personal information. Do not wire or transfer money to pay a “processing fee” or for any other reason.  
• If in doubt, consult an attorney or accredited representative before taking any action. 
• Avoid sharing unverified information on social media.

If you need support: 

24-Hour Emergency Support: Call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Family Support Hotline at 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693). For additional resources, visit: https://www.icirr.org/community-resources.

NIJC legal services for Illinois and Indiana: Chicago residents are eligible for free legal services from NIJC through the City of Chicago Legal Protection Fund. Immigrants in Illinois and Indiana can obtain free or low-cost legal consultations and representation from NIJC.