Rights

An undocumented immigrant's moment of anguish

I called my attorney, Elías, today. I told him all about how my husband’s business associate has gone from constantly calling the police on him to calling ICE. Yesterday morning, three of my husband’s employees were abducted by ICE and now he is terrified of going to work. We hope his clients understand and wait for all of this to blow over. I cannot sleep, anxiety crawling across my skin like ants, afraid of what would happen if ICE comes after me. What would be the fate of my daughters?

Elías immediately emailed me my work authorization approval notice.

(Gosh, how I wish now that I would have never asked for a correction to my last name! I would have my card—with its small flaw—in my hands! I could brandish it in front of the ICE agents like a talisman and have reason to believe that I would be left alone!)

He emailed me a copy of my card. I didn’t know one existed! He sent me a flyer listing my rights. Today is the first time I have carefully read one of those flyers.

Elías said, “Study the flyer. Commit it to memory.”

Studying it is what I did all afternoon. I learned what to do if ICE asks my immigration status. I did not know that I have the right to remain silent. I’ve always thought that I have to answer anything that I am asked. But I don’t! Same thing if an agent wants to search me. I have a right to refuse this too.

However, Elías also said something unsettling. He said that Trump’s ICE often does not respect constitutional rights.

“This is why you must carry the papers that I sent you. You have status in this country. You are just missing your card for the moment!” he said.