Updated September 2026: In light of stories of increased ICE arrests at airports and ICE arrests reaching record highs this summer, we are updating this KYR blog to provide additional information on how to keep yourself safe.
Everyone, no matter where they come from or how they arrived in the U.S., has fundamental rights under the Constitution. As Trump’s mass deportation efforts become more aggressive, it’s more important than ever for immigrants, people of color, and allied communities to understand and exercise those rights if and when ICE knocks on your door.
Knowing your rights can make a huge difference. In Chicago, immigrant rights advocates reached enough households to frustrate mass deportation efforts. Even Tom Homan, the Trump-appointed “Border Czar” has complained that the growing number of “well educated” immigrants has made it “very difficult” to arrest people. On a national level, people are crediting legal education with slowing down arrests and deportations — including in immigrant-rich cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Quick links:
- Who is at risk of an ICE arrest?
- What happens if ICE stops me in public?
- What happens if ICE comes to my home?
- Do I need to carry documents with me?
- How do I protect myself while I’m traveling?
- What should I do after an ICE arrest?
- Where else can I go for information?
- What else can I do to protect immigrants?
3 in 5 Asian Americans and 1 in 4 Pacific Islanders were born outside of the United States. To protect our immigrant friends, relatives, and neighbors, the most important thing we can do is stay informed. In this guide, we’ll break down who is at risk of an ICE arrest, what to do if ICE stops you, and how AAPI communities can prepare for immigrant raids and other law enforcement interactions.
What does mass deportation mean for AAPI communities?
Stop AAPI Hate’s Asian and Pacific Islander (A/PI) ICE Tracker shows the real impact of Trump’s mass deportation operations. From January 2025 through August 6, 2026, Asian people were involved in 21,078 ICE arrests, 18,769 detentions, and 9,590 deportations. When compared to an equivalent time period under the previous administration, Asian arrests under the second Trump administration rose 436% (vs. 219% overall), detentions rose 512% (vs. 280% overall), and deportations rose 1,103% (vs. 356% overall). Among Pacific Islanders, there were 402 Pacific Islander ICE arrests, 379 detentions, and 323 deportations. When compared to an equivalent time period under the previous administration, Pacific Islander arrests increased by 25%, detentions by 34%, and deportations by 33%.
To learn more about which communities are being affected the most and where enforcement is being concentrated, click here to read our data blog.
Stop AAPI Hate is not a legal services organization, and nothing in this document should be construed as legal advice. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. If you have specific questions about the immigration risks you or your family may face, please consult a qualified immigration attorney. To find immigration legal resources near you, click here.
Who is at risk of an ICE arrest?
Federal law allows the government to deport anyone who does not have lawful immigration status. This includes:
- People who entered the U.S. without permission.
- People who overstayed their visas.
However, even those with lawful immigration status can be at risk of deportation if they have certain criminal convictions. This includes:
- Green card holders (lawful permanent residents).
- Refugees and asylum seekers.
- Visa holders (such as student or work visa holders).
Since 2025, Congress has provided more than $269 billion dollars to fund Trump’s deadly immigration enforcement campaign. Immigrant communities have seen firsthand what the influx in funding has done – consistently high levels of arrests, detentions, and deportations and more than 50 people have died at the hands of ICE including 12 Asian people. Adding to the harm Trump’s agenda has inflicted over the last two years, ICE and CBP still have $152 billion as of June 2026 left to spend.
What happens if ICE stops me in public?
If ICE agents stop you, remember these key rights:
✅ You have the right to remain silent – You do not have to answer any questions, including where you were born or how you entered the U.S.
✅ You can ask, “Am I free to go?” – If ICE says yes, you can walk away. If they say no, invoke your right to remain silent and ask to speak with a lawyer.
✅ ICE cannot search you without consent – If an agent tries to search your belongings, say clearly, “I do not consent to this search.”
TIP: Carry a Know Your Rights card and hand it to the officer instead of speaking.
For more on what to do if ICE stops you, click here.
What happens if ICE comes to my home?
If ICE agents come to your door:
🚪Do NOT open the door – ICE cannot enter without a valid judicial warrant. A real warrant must be signed by a judge (not ICE) and have your correct name and address.
📄 Ask ICE to slide the warrant under the door or show it through a window to verify its validity.
🤐 You have the right to remain silent – Do not answer questions. You do not have to answer ICE’s questions.
❌ Do NOT sign anything – If you don’t fully understanding what it means, do not sign it without speaking to a lawyer.
⚠️ ICE may lie to get you to open the door – They often pretend to be local police investigating a crime in your neighborhood. Be cautious and learn more about common ICE lies here.
For a guide on what to do when ICE is at your door, click here.
Get the latest from Stop AAPI Hate.
Do I need to carry documents with me?
If you have valid immigration documents (such as a green card or work permit), you should carry them with you. If you have a pending immigration case, carry proof of your case.
✅If you have lived in the U.S. for over two years, carry documents that prove it, such as leases, utility bills, or receipts.
⚠️ Why is this important? Trump’s expansion of expedited removals allows ICE to deport undocumented immigrants who cannot prove they’ve been in the U.S. for more than two years — without ever seeing a judge.
Learn more about Expedited Removal here.
How do I protect myself while I’m traveling?
With increased reporting of non-citizen travelers being arrested at U.S. airports, additional caution is recommended for individuals with pending immigration cases or benefit applications and serious caution for potential travelers with old removal orders or criminal history or any immigration status.
Non-citizens should consult with an immigration attorney before traveling and everyone, regardless of immigration status, should make sure to bring legal immigration and identity documents while traveling.
For additional guidance, review this Know Your Rights at the Airport document from the Asian Law Caucus.
What should I do after an ICE arrest?
If you or a loved one is detained by ICE:
❌ Do NOT answer questions – You have the right to remain silent.
❌ Do NOT sign anything – Many ICE documents are designed to speed up deportation. Always consult an attorney first.
✅ Ask to speak to a lawyer – Unlike criminal court, the government will not provide you with a free lawyer, but you have the right to hire one. To find free or low cost legal representation, click here.
📍To find a detained loved one, use the ICE Detainee Locator tool. (Note: ICE has stopped publicly revealing the location of thousands of detainees who have final removal orders. This move has made it far more difficult for lawyers and relatives to find them.)
For more on how to protect yourself after an ICE arrest, check out this Deportation Defense Manual.
Where else can I go for information?
📌 Immigrant Defense Project – Step-by-step guidance on what to do if ICE stops you.
📌 Immigrant Legal Resource Center – Download a Know Your Rights card in multiple languages.
What else can I do to protect immigrants?
State and local governments are pushing back against the Trump administration to pass laws and implement policies to protect immigrant communities and resist cruel immigration enforcement tactics. Learn more about ways you can fight for immigrant justice in your own community by using our Fighting Back Locally Toolkit.
Learn More
Immigrants & Refugees Resources Playlist
This collection shares legal aid, know-your-rights info, and safety protocols for immigrants, refugees, and the organizations that work to serve and protect them.
Asian and Pacific Islander ICE Tracker
Stop AAPI Hate’s Asian and Pacific Islander ICE Tracker turns federal immigration enforcement data into clear, interactive dashboards tracking the impact of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions on Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Know Your Rights | What to Do When You Encounter ICE