Know Your Rights: Immigrants' Rights

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS BEING DEPORTED:  
We encourage you to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You can also reach out to the following hotlines for support.  

  • Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) hotline: 1-888-622-1510
  • Sanctuary Promise hotline: 1-844-924-STAY/1-844-6-AMPARO

Click below for a printable list of Oregon-based attorneys and non-profit organizations who may be able to help you navigate the immigration legal system.

ACLU OF OREGON IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS RESOURCES (ENGLISH)

ACLU OF OREGON RECURSOS SOBRE DERECHOS DE LOS INMIGRANTES (ESPAÑOL)

IF LAW ENFORCEMENT ASKS ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS: 

  • You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.
  • If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you. This requirement only applies to immigration agents. You do not have to show any documents to local or state police, except that you do have to show a valid drivers’ license if police pull you over for a traffic violation.
  • If the police or an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no. Agents generally do not have the right to search you or your belongings without your permission or a warrant. 
  • If you’re over 18 and are not a U.S. citizen, carry your papers with you at all times. If you don’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering any questions.

OTHER IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS INFORMATION: 

If you or somebody you love is an immigrant living in Oregon, you have rights. Explore the tabs below for answers to commonly asked questions. 

ICE is at my door. What do I say?

A.ICE is at my door. What do I say?

A.

You have rights that ICE must respect. For example,  you have the right to refuse entry into your home if ICE does not have a warrant signed by a judge that says they can search your address. We recommend that you keep a copy of the script below in your home should you need to use it in the future. 

SEARCH AND SEIZURE SCRIPT PRINTABLE (ENGLISH) 

GUION SOBRE REGISTRO Y DECOMISO (ESPAÑOL) 

Print Your own red cards — Immigrant Legal Resource Center (all languages) 

ICE is at my workplace. What are my rights?

A.ICE is at my workplace. What are my rights?

A.

You and your employer have rights at work that can protect you from ICE arrests. For example, your employer has the right to refuse ICE entry into their property if ICE doesn't have a warrant, and you have the right to remain silent if ICE is at your workplace. You also have the right to be free from discrimination at work, and be treated fairly in payment and other treatment, regardless of your immigration status. 

More information: 

Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI)

National Employment Law Project

There is ICE activity in my community. How can I help?

A.There is ICE activity in my community. How can I help?

A.

You can report ICE activity by calling the Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition (PIRC) hotline at 1-888-622-1510.

Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition

Local police and schools are working with ICE. What should I know?

A.Local police and schools are working with ICE. What should I know?

A.

Oregon law, the Sanctuary Promise Act, prohibits local and state police from working with ICE. This means that when you interact with local government officials — like police and schools — that they cannot work with ICE by sharing your information or setting you up to be arrested by ICE. 

More information: 

Report a violation of the Sanctuary Promise Act (ODOJ)

Rural Oranizing Project — Sanctuary Promise in Action

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: SANCTUARY PROMISE (ENGLISH)

CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS: PROMESA DE SANTUARIO (ESPAÑOL)

I am an immigrant with children. How can I plan or prepare for an immigration emergency?

A.I am an immigrant with children. How can I plan or prepare for an immigration emergency?

A.

It is important to be prepared in the event that you may encounter immigration agents. Use the resources below to develop an emergency plan for your loved ones in case you are facing deportation. 

WEhaverights.us — Create an Emergency plan

NOTIFICA APP BY UNITED WE DREAM (english and spanish)

I have a court date coming up. Can I be arrested at the courthouse?

A.I have a court date coming up. Can I be arrested at the courthouse?

A.

Under state law, ICE is not allowed to make arrests at the state courts — including the parking lots, entryways, and sidewalks around state courts — without a warrant or order signed by a judge. If you observe an ICE arrest at or near an Oregon court, you can report it to the PIRC hotline or ODOJ Sanctuary Promise hotline. 

PIRC hotline: 1-888-622-1510
Sanctuary Promise hotline: 1-844-924-STAY/1-844-6-AMPARO

I am an immigrant. Can I obtain a driver's license?

A.I am an immigrant. Can I obtain a driver's license?

A.

In Oregon, you do not need to present proof of citizenship in order to obtain a valid driver's license or identification card. To learn more about what you need to do to get a driver's license or ID, visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office or check out the DMV's information page at the link below. 

Oregon DMV Information Page

I am an immigrant youth. What are my protections?

A.I am an immigrant youth. What are my protections?

A.

Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a federal policy that gives youth and young professionals opportunities to work in the U.S. while temporarily being protected from deportation. While DACA is currently being challenged in the federal courts, the protection remains available to people who are eligible. 

More information: 

ACLU National KYR for Dreamers

National Immigration Law Center

I am being mistreated at my school because I am an immigrant. What can I do?

A.I am being mistreated at my school because I am an immigrant. What can I do?

A.

If you are experiencing mistreatment at any Oregon public school or public school program because of a protected status, you are protected by Oregon law. Protected statuses include: 

  • race
  • color
  • religion
  • sex
  • sexual orientation
  • gender identity
  • national origin
  • marital status
  • age
  • disability

Mistreatment can include intentional discrimination or discrimination in the different effect a school's action or inaction has on people like you. 

Oregon law requires schools to provide you with information about the school district's discrimination process. Once you have completed all steps of the local process, you can file a complaint with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). ODE can investigate your complain and hold the school accountable. 

Filing a Civil Rights Complaint (ODE)

I believe I am a victim of a hate crime. What should I do?

A.I believe I am a victim of a hate crime. What should I do?

A.

Oregon has laws against discrimination and hate crimes. If you feel that you have been mistreated because of your actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability, you have resources available to you from the State of Oregon. 

More information: 

ODOJ Community Bias Response Toolkit and Hotline

ADDITIONAL IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS RESOURCES: 

ACLU NATIONAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PAGEUNITED WE DREAM KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PAGE
WE HAVE RIGHTS VIDEOS

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