What are your rights if you get stopped by ICE in Mississippi? Here’s what to know
Anti-ICE protests broke out across the United States this week when a U.S. citizen was killed in Minneapolis Jan. 7 after an ICE agent fired a gun into her vehicle.
A day after, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified two Venezuelan nationals who were injured in a shooting involving ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, galvanizing more protests across the city, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
With continued violent arrests as a result of mass deportations under the Trump administration, it’s important to understand your rights if you encounter an immigration agent in Mississippi.
All individuals in Mississippi — including people living in the country without legal permission — have fundamental rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi.
Here’s what you should know if you encounter an ICE agent in the Magnolia State.
What are your rights as an immigrant in Mississippi?
These are your rights as an immigrant in Mississippi, according to the ACLU of Mississippi:
- Right to remain silent
- Right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself or your property
- Right to leave calmly if you are not under arrest
- Right to a lawyer if you are arrested
What to do if you are stopped by ICE agents for questioning in MS
Here’s what you should do if you’re stopped by an immigration enforcement agent in Mississippi, according to the ACLU of Mississippi:
- Stay clam
- Don’t run, argue, resist or obstruct the police
- Keep your hands where agents can see them
- Ask agents you can leave. If you’re under arrest, you have a right to know why
- Tell the agent out loud if you wish to remain silent
- Do not lie or provide fake documents
If you’re a U.S. citizen or have lawful permanent immigration status and get stopped, you should show documentation of your legal status, including your passport, legal permanent resident card, work permit or other documentation, according to the National Immigrant Justice Center.
What to do if you are stopped by ICE agents while in your car
Here’s what you should do if you’re stopped by an immigration agent while in a vehicle, according to the ACLU of Mississippi:
- Pull over in a safe place as soon as possible
- Turn off the car
- Open the window part way and put your hands on the wheel
- Show your driver’s license, registration and insurance
- Remember your rights
If you are a passenger in the vehicle, you can also ask if you are free to leave, according to the ACLU officials said.
What to do if immigration agents come to your home
Here’s what you should do if immigration agents come to your home, according to the ACLU of Mississippi:
Remember that you don’t have to let them in unless they have a certain warrant
Ask to see the warrant to make sure they have the correct warrant to enter your home. A warrant of deportation does not allow officers to enter without consent
What to do if you are arrested by immigration agents
Here’s what you should do if you’re arrested by ICE agents, according to the ACLU of Mississippi:
- Do not resist
- Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer
- Remember that you have the right to make a local phone call
What to do if you feel your rights have been violated
If you feel your rights have been violated by immigration enforcement agents, here’s what to do, according to the ACLU of Mississippi:
- Don’t physically resist or threaten officers
- Write down everything you remember, including badge and patrol car numbers, what agency officers were from and other details
- Get contact info from witnesses
- If you’re injured, take photos of injuries after seeking medical attention if needed
- File written complaint with agency’s internal affairs division. You can do this anonymously if needed
