Guide to Knowing Your Rights and Promoting Your Safety

January 27, 2025

Our Commitment To You

To the families, providers, and communities who depend on us:

 

During this time of uncertainty and heightened anxiety, especially for our immigrant families, Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) is here to support you. No matter what evolves in this political climate, we remain committed to our values as an organization. This means continuing to advocate for the safety and well-being of all children and their families.

For anyone who may be affected by the recent executive orders, below you will find key information to help you understand your rights, develop a safety plan for your loved ones, and know what resources are available to you. Our priority remains protecting all children and mitigating trauma in every way possible. IAFC learning centers will remain a secure, caring, and peaceful environment for children, and we will ensure our staff members and families supported through our programs can easily access the most current information and guidance. 

Questions You May Have

No. At IAFC and across our programs and agency sites, it is our responsibility to mitigate trauma and protect the children we serve. We will maintain a secure, safe, peaceful learning environment for all children. If an ICE officer does NOT have the proper credentials, permission to enter the building, and a signed judicial warrant, the site/program director will refuse consent to enter the property and politely request that the agent leave.

 

Here are 5 Things You Can Proactively Do to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones, developed by the Immigration Justice Center. The Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) also offers this step-by-step family preparedness plan.

Regardless of your immigration status, you have rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. Watch these videos and refer to the multilingual toolkits and training guides below to understand your rights. The National Partnership for New Americans has also produced a live document with legal protection resources and materials that will be continually updated. 

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) runs a 24/7 Family Support Hotline, available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Polish: 1-855-435-7693. You can learn about ICIRR’s financial support program, report ICE activity, connect with an immigration attorney, find health care resources for immigrants and refugees, and more. 

Resources for Families

Read IAFC’s Detailed Printable Guidance for Families

All resources listed in the guide can be accessed below.


Direct Hotline:

You can call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee (ICIRR) Family Support Hotline at +1-855-435-7693 if you need assistance or need to report ICE activity.

Available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Polish.


Know Your Rights:

 

Know Your Rights One-Pager | Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee (ICIRR)

Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and French.

 

Know Your Rights Resource | Illinois Attorney General

Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Serbian, and Urdu.

 

Know Your Rights One-Pager | National Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

Available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.


Printable Red Cards:

 

Printable Red Cards

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Haitian, Hmong, Korean, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.


Family Preparedness Plan:

 

Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

Available in English and Spanish


Additional Resources:

Resources for Providers

Read IAFC’s Detailed Printable Guidance for Providers

All resources listed in the guide can be accessed below.


Guides:

 

A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigrant Comes to Your Workplace 

National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Thai 

 

Tips for Responding to ICE Inquiries at Head Start Centers 

Community Action Program Legal Services (CAPLAW)

 

 A Guide to Creating “Safe Space” Policies for Early Childhood Programs 

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) 

 

Chicago Immigration Defense Resources and Training Guide 

Chicago Immigration Defense (CID)

Available in English and Spanish 

 

Handling ICE Raids and Encounters 

Immigrant Defense Project (IDP)

Available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Tagalog, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Bangla, Punjabi, Arabic, Urdu, Simplified Mandarin, Traditional Mandarin, Korean, Russian, and Hebrew. 


Know Your Rights: 

 

Illinois Attorney General’s Know Your Rights Resource 

Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Serbian, and Urdu.  

 

Know Your Rights Toolkit 

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) 

 

Know Your Rights One Pager 

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR) 

 

Immigration Know Your Rights Tools 

Abriendo Puertas Opening Doors 


Documents To Look For: 

 

Non-Regulatory Guidance on Immigration Enforcement Actions 

Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)

Example of Federal Warrants: 

Examples of Civil Immigration Warrants: