Know Your Rights

Law enforcement asks about my immigration status

How to reduce risk to yourself

• Stay calm. Don’t run, argue, resist, or obstruct the officer, evenif you believe your rights are being violated. Keep your handswhere police can see them.

• Don’t lie about your status or provide false documents.

Your rights

• You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discussyour immigration or citizenship status with police, immigrationagents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can laterbe used against you in immigration court.

• If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requestsyour immigration papers, you must show them if you have themwith you.

• If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you havethe right to say no. Agents do not have the right to search youor your belongings without your consent or probable cause.

• If you’re over 18, carry your papers with you at all times. If youdon’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent,or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering anyquestions.

What to do in such an encounter

• In some states, you must provide your name to lawenforcement if you are stopped and told to identify yourself. But even if you give your name, you don’t have to answer otherquestions.

• If you are driving and are pulled over, the officer can requireyou to show your license, vehicle registration and proof ofinsurance, but you don’t have to answer questions about yourimmigration status.

• Customs officers can ask about your immigration status whenentering or leaving the country. If you are a lawful permanentresident (LPR) who has maintained your status, you only haveto answer questions establishing your identity and permanentresidency. Refusal to answer other questions will likely causedelay, but officials may not deny you entry into the UnitedStates for failure to answer other questions. If you are a non-citizen visa holder, you may be denied entry into the U.S. if yourefuse to answer officers’ questions.