Deportation, Removal, and Detention

Legal Information

Other Immigration Problems

Is this information helpful? Let us know!

Information for Fee Waiver

Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees

A Roadmap to Winning Legal Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder Removal Case

If you are legal permanent resident (LPR) of the United States (also called a "green card" holder) and you"ve been convicted of certain crimes or broken other immigration laws, ICE may put you into deportation proceedings. However, you may be able to apply for a one-time-only pardon that allows you to cancel your deportation.

Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants

If you're looking for help with an immigration issue and want to hire an immigration consultant rather than an attorney, it's important to understand what an immigration consultant can and cannot do for you. This resource includes a few tips to avoid fraud.

California Laws Protecting Immigrants’ Civil Rights

Over the last several years, California has taken significant strides to protect immigrants, passing a broad range of laws to expand and uphold the civil and labor rights of immigrants, to equalize access to higher education, and to define the role local law enforcement agencies may play in the enforcement of federal immigration law. This resource has summaries of select laws enacted in recent years.

Temporary Relief from Deportation for People

If you are in immigration proceedings and your case is considered low priority, this guide will inform how you may get granted prosecutorial discretion; that will temporarily defer your removal from the US.

Getting a Bond: Your Keys to Release from Detention

This packet will give you the keys you need to be released on bond. It includes information about who is eligible for a bond, how to apply for bond, and what evidence you need to convince the Judge to give you a low bond.

Guide to 90 Day Custody Review Process

This guide is designed to help individuals with a final "order of removal, deportation, or exclusion" who are still in detention after 9 days. The law states that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has 9 days from the date you received your final order to remove you from the US.

Guide: How to stop removal proceedings through the "10-Year Cancellation of Removal" law

If you, or someone you know, is in removal proceedings, this guide will help you understand the requirements and steps to build your case based on the "1-year cancellation of removal" legal remedy. If granted, it will stop your removal from the U.S. and will help you obtain a legal permanent resident card (green card).

Guidelines for Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas

The first-ever policy for both ICE and CBP provides an expanded and non-exhaustive list of protected areas, including new designations such as places where children gather, disaster or emergency relief sites, and social services establishments.

What to Do If You Are In Expedited Removal or Restatement of Removal

If you have recently come to the United States without permission and are afraid to return to your home country, you may be in the "credible fear" process.

How ICE pretends to be local police Flyer

Ways that ICE pretends to be local police in person and over the phone.

How to Apply for Asylum and Withholding of Removal

This guide will give you the basics about these laws and explain how your might be able to use these laws to stop your deportation. We"ll also talk about how to apply and what kind of evidence you need for a strong case.

How to Apply for Voluntary Departure

This booklet is for people who are in the custody of DHS and who have been placed in removal proceedings. "Removal" is what used to be called "deportation."

How to Apply to the Department of Homeland Security for Release from Immigration Custody

This booklet is for certain individuals in the custody of DHS who do not qualify under the law to ask an Immigration Judge to lower their bonds but who may qualify to ask the Immigration and Naturalization Service to set bonds in their cases or to let them leave the detention center without paying bonds.

How to know what type of immigration case you could have while in immigration detention

Handout that explains whether you will have a right to see an immigration judge if you are in immigration detention.

ICE Home Raids Poster

This resource explains your rights with ICE in the home, what to say to an agent at the door, and what to document if ICE comes to your home.

ICE pulled over my car! What are my rights? Flyer

What to do if you are a driver or passenger in a car stopped by ICE.

Immigration Preparedness Toolkit

The ILRC’s Immigration Preparedness Toolkit is a resource-packed informational document designed to help immigrants with no legal status or in mixed status families begin to understand the immigration legal landscape and plan for their own journey through an ever-changing, complex system in the United States. This free toolkit offers in-depth, yet easily accessible information that outlines the basics about a variety of topics including: your rights during ICE confrontations, the different types of immigration options available, ideas for building your consultation roadmap, and tips on covering your bases while waiting for relief. This 13-page resource also incorporates links to other helpful reference documents, fact sheets, and tools readers can use to construct their own personalized plan.

Know Your Rights

No matter who is president, everyone living in the U.S. has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. Undocumented immigrants have these rights, too. It is important that we all assert and protect our basic rights. If you find you have to deal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other law enforcement officers at home, on the street, or anywhere else, remember that you have the rights described in this factsheet. The factsheet also provides suggestions for what you should do to assert your rights.

Know Your Rights and What Immigrant Families Should Do Now

It’s important for everyone to know their rights if approached by an immigration (ICE) agent as well as how families can best prepare for something happening. This resource provides practical tips for things immigrant families can do now to prepare as well as information on rights everyone has in the United States, regardless of immigration status.

Know Your Rights at Home and on the Street

This resource explains who is at risk of an ICE arrest and your rights when interacting with ICE officers. What are my rights if I am being arrested by ICE? • You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to speak to a lawyer. •DO NOT LIE. It can only hurt you in the future. • You do NOT have to share any information about where you were born, what your immigration status is, or your criminal record. Ask to speak to a lawyer instead of answering questions. • You do NOT have to give them your consular documents or passport unless they have a warrant from a judge. • You do not have to sign anything.

Know Your Rights: Police Interactions

Encounters with the law can be stressful or scary. People have various experiences with law enforcement, some of which are not always fair or legal. This guide provides you practical information that could help you avoid more trouble or potentially harmful situations. The bolded words below are “magic words” that you can repeat over and over to show you know the law. Memorize them. Know your rights, so you can use them.

Legal Resources for Immigrants

If you are seeking legal assistance for citizenship or immigration status, this pamphlet can serve as a starting point to find the legal services you need.

Prolonged Detention Bond Hearing

This guide should be reviewed if you have requested a bond hearing based on the Ninth Circuit decisions in Casas-Castrillon v. DHS, 535 F.3d 942 (9th Cir. 28), Rodriguez v. Robbins, 715 F.3d 1127 (9th. Cir. 213), or Diouf v. Napolitano, 634 F.3d 181 (9th Cir. 211).

Red Cards - Wallet Know Your Rights Card

You have constitutional rights: • DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door. • DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent. • DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer. • If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly. • GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT. If you are inside of your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door. You can get help printing these at your local library.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ)

The purpose of the SIJ program is to help foreign children in the United States who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.

10 Things Noncitizen Protestors Need to Know

Everyone, regardless of immigration status, has a constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech and lawful assembly. Noncitizens, however, are uniquely placed at a disadvantage when exercising those rights if law enforcement intervene and make arrests. Read and share our one-pager in English and Spanish to learn about the top 10 things noncitizen protestors should know before they take to the streets to exercise their rights.

Violence Against Women Act

Immigrant victims are protected by federal law.

What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration

If you are arrested and detained, it is important that you keep calm, and remember the following things.

Appeals and Motions: Questions and Answers

You may file an appeal on some unfavorable decisions to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

An Immigration Filing Fee Waiver

Recognizing that some applicants cannot pay the filing fees, USCIS established a fee waiver process for certain forms and benefit types.

Find Legal Assistance with Your Immigration Case Near You

This interactive map and search engine that will help you find legal assistance near you.

Find USCIS Field Offices Near You

Field Offices handle scheduled interviews on non-asylum related applications.

ICE Online Detainee Locator System

This tool will help you locate a detainee who is currently in ICE custody, or who was released from ICE custody within the last 6 days.

An Immigration Filing Fee Waiver

Recognizing that some applicants cannot pay the filing fees, USCIS established a fee waiver process for certain forms and benefit types.

Appeals and Motions: Questions and Answers

You may file an appeal on some unfavorable decisions to the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

A Roadmap to Winning Legal Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder Removal Case

If you are legal permanent resident (LPR) of the United States (also called a "green card" holder) and you"ve been convicted of certain crimes or broken other immigration laws, ICE may put you into deportation proceedings. However, you may be able to apply for a one-time-only pardon that allows you to cancel your deportation.

Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants

If you're looking for help with an immigration issue and want to hire an immigration consultant rather than an attorney, it's important to understand what an immigration consultant can and cannot do for you. This resource includes a few tips to avoid fraud.

California Laws Protecting Immigrants’ Civil Rights

Over the last several years, California has taken significant strides to protect immigrants, passing a broad range of laws to expand and uphold the civil and labor rights of immigrants, to equalize access to higher education, and to define the role local law enforcement agencies may play in the enforcement of federal immigration law. This resource has summaries of select laws enacted in recent years.

Temporary Relief from Deportation for People

If you are in immigration proceedings and your case is considered low priority, this guide will inform how you may get granted prosecutorial discretion; that will temporarily defer your removal from the US.

Find Legal Assistance with Your Immigration Case Near You

This interactive map and search engine that will help you find legal assistance near you.

Find USCIS Field Offices Near You

Field Offices handle scheduled interviews on non-asylum related applications.

Getting a Bond: Your Keys to Release from Detention

This packet will give you the keys you need to be released on bond. It includes information about who is eligible for a bond, how to apply for bond, and what evidence you need to convince the Judge to give you a low bond.

Find What an Immigration Related Word Means Here

You can use this dictionary to quickly look up a definition or explanation for a topic.

Guide to 90 Day Custody Review Process

This guide is designed to help individuals with a final "order of removal, deportation, or exclusion" who are still in detention after 9 days. The law states that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has 9 days from the date you received your final order to remove you from the US.

Guide: How to stop removal proceedings through the "10-Year Cancellation of Removal" law

If you, or someone you know, is in removal proceedings, this guide will help you understand the requirements and steps to build your case based on the "1-year cancellation of removal" legal remedy. If granted, it will stop your removal from the U.S. and will help you obtain a legal permanent resident card (green card).

Guidelines for Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas

The first-ever policy for both ICE and CBP provides an expanded and non-exhaustive list of protected areas, including new designations such as places where children gather, disaster or emergency relief sites, and social services establishments.

What to Do If You Are In Expedited Removal or Restatement of Removal

If you have recently come to the United States without permission and are afraid to return to your home country, you may be in the "credible fear" process.

How ICE pretends to be local police Flyer

Ways that ICE pretends to be local police in person and over the phone.

How to Apply for Asylum and Withholding of Removal

This guide will give you the basics about these laws and explain how your might be able to use these laws to stop your deportation. We"ll also talk about how to apply and what kind of evidence you need for a strong case.

How to Apply for Voluntary Departure

This booklet is for people who are in the custody of DHS and who have been placed in removal proceedings. "Removal" is what used to be called "deportation."

How to Apply to the Department of Homeland Security for Release from Immigration Custody

This booklet is for certain individuals in the custody of DHS who do not qualify under the law to ask an Immigration Judge to lower their bonds but who may qualify to ask the Immigration and Naturalization Service to set bonds in their cases or to let them leave the detention center without paying bonds.

How to know what type of immigration case you could have while in immigration detention

Handout that explains whether you will have a right to see an immigration judge if you are in immigration detention.

ICE Home Raids Poster

This resource explains your rights with ICE in the home, what to say to an agent at the door, and what to document if ICE comes to your home.

ICE Online Detainee Locator System

This tool will help you locate a detainee who is currently in ICE custody, or who was released from ICE custody within the last 6 days.

ICE pulled over my car! What are my rights? Flyer

What to do if you are a driver or passenger in a car stopped by ICE.

ImmigrationLawHelp.org

ImmigrationLawHelp.org is a searchable online directory of over 1,000 free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal services providers in all 50 states. Users can search ImmigrationLawHelp.org by state, zip code, or detention facility. Users can also refine their search by types and areas of legal assistance provided, populations served, languages spoken, other areas of legal assistance, and non-legal services provided.

Immigration Preparedness Toolkit

The ILRC’s Immigration Preparedness Toolkit is a resource-packed informational document designed to help immigrants with no legal status or in mixed status families begin to understand the immigration legal landscape and plan for their own journey through an ever-changing, complex system in the United States. This free toolkit offers in-depth, yet easily accessible information that outlines the basics about a variety of topics including: your rights during ICE confrontations, the different types of immigration options available, ideas for building your consultation roadmap, and tips on covering your bases while waiting for relief. This 13-page resource also incorporates links to other helpful reference documents, fact sheets, and tools readers can use to construct their own personalized plan.

Information for Fee Waiver

Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees

Know Your Rights

No matter who is president, everyone living in the U.S. has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. Undocumented immigrants have these rights, too. It is important that we all assert and protect our basic rights. If you find you have to deal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other law enforcement officers at home, on the street, or anywhere else, remember that you have the rights described in this factsheet. The factsheet also provides suggestions for what you should do to assert your rights.

Know Your Rights and What Immigrant Families Should Do Now

It’s important for everyone to know their rights if approached by an immigration (ICE) agent as well as how families can best prepare for something happening. This resource provides practical tips for things immigrant families can do now to prepare as well as information on rights everyone has in the United States, regardless of immigration status.

Know Your Rights at Home and on the Street

This resource explains who is at risk of an ICE arrest and your rights when interacting with ICE officers. What are my rights if I am being arrested by ICE? • You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to speak to a lawyer. •DO NOT LIE. It can only hurt you in the future. • You do NOT have to share any information about where you were born, what your immigration status is, or your criminal record. Ask to speak to a lawyer instead of answering questions. • You do NOT have to give them your consular documents or passport unless they have a warrant from a judge. • You do not have to sign anything.

Know Your Rights: Police Interactions

Encounters with the law can be stressful or scary. People have various experiences with law enforcement, some of which are not always fair or legal. This guide provides you practical information that could help you avoid more trouble or potentially harmful situations. The bolded words below are “magic words” that you can repeat over and over to show you know the law. Memorize them. Know your rights, so you can use them.

Legal Resources for Immigrants

If you are seeking legal assistance for citizenship or immigration status, this pamphlet can serve as a starting point to find the legal services you need.

Prolonged Detention Bond Hearing

This guide should be reviewed if you have requested a bond hearing based on the Ninth Circuit decisions in Casas-Castrillon v. DHS, 535 F.3d 942 (9th Cir. 28), Rodriguez v. Robbins, 715 F.3d 1127 (9th. Cir. 213), or Diouf v. Napolitano, 634 F.3d 181 (9th Cir. 211).

Red Cards - Wallet Know Your Rights Card

You have constitutional rights: • DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door. • DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent. • DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer. • If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly. • GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT. If you are inside of your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door. You can get help printing these at your local library.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ)

The purpose of the SIJ program is to help foreign children in the United States who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.

10 Things Noncitizen Protestors Need to Know

Everyone, regardless of immigration status, has a constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech and lawful assembly. Noncitizens, however, are uniquely placed at a disadvantage when exercising those rights if law enforcement intervene and make arrests. Read and share our one-pager in English and Spanish to learn about the top 10 things noncitizen protestors should know before they take to the streets to exercise their rights.

Tips for Filing Forms with USCIS

Form fees, eligibility requirements, fee waiver eligibility, required documents, and mailing addresses vary depending on the form you are filing and why you are filing.

Violence Against Women Act

Immigrant victims are protected by federal law.

What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration

If you are arrested and detained, it is important that you keep calm, and remember the following things.

Back to top