Considering recent developments, various organizations are actively providing legal assistance to
immigrants facing deportation and those targeted for their speech or peaceful actions. Some are
particularly focused on countering policies that have been perceived as retaliatory or suppressive.
Below is a curated list of such organizations, along with their missions and relevance.

Website: https://www.aclu.org

Mission: The ACLU defends individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the
Constitution and laws of the United States.

 Relevance: The ACLU has actively litigated cases where immigrants were targeted for their First Amendment-protected speech, including peaceful protests and academic expressions. They have successfully challenged policies that sought to deport individuals based on their political views.

Website: Website: https://www.nilc.org

Mission: NILC is dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income
immigrants through litigation, policy advocacy, and public education.

 Relevance: NILC provides resources and legal support for immigrants participating in protests, ensuring they are aware of their rights and can safely engage in civic activities.

Website:  https://immigrantjustice.org 

Mission: NIJC provides legal services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, focusing on ensuring human rights protections and access to justice.

 Relevance: NIJC offers programs like the Detention, Democracy & Due Process Project, which defends immigrants facing deportation, particularly those detained for their activism or political beliefs

Website: https://www.nwirp.org 

Mission: NWIRP promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.

 Relevance: NWIRP has a history of representing individuals in removal proceedings and has challenged policies that infringe upon the rights of immigrants, including those related to free speech and political expression.

Website: https://www.advancingjustice-alc.org 

Mission: ALC is committed to the civil and legal rights of Asian and Pacific Islander communities, focusing on immigration, civil rights, and national security issues.

 Relevance: ALC has addressed cases where immigrants, particularly from Asian backgrounds, faced deportation or legal challenges due to their activism or political stances.

Website: https://protectdemocracy.org 

Mission: Protect Democracy aims to prevent the erosion of democratic norms and institutions, ensuring that the U.S. government remains accountable to its laws and principles.

 Relevance: The organization has litigated cases involving government retaliation against individuals for their speech, including immigrants and activists targeted under policies perceived as suppressive.

Website: https://projectrousseau.org 

Mission: Project Rousseau empowers youth from underserved communities through
education, mentorship, and legal support.

 Relevance: The organization has provided legal assistance to young immigrants and asylum seekers, particularly those affected by policies targeting individuals for their activism or political expressions.

Website: https://www.vermont.gov  (search for “Immigration Legal Defense Fund”)

Mission: This state-backed initiative provides legal representation to immigrants facing detention and deportation in Vermont.

 Relevance: The fund was established following cases where individuals were detained due to their activism, highlighting the need for legal support against retaliatory immigration enforcement.

An immigrant rights advocate would advise individuals who are stopped or detained by immigration authorities (such as ICE or CBP) to exercise their legal rights calmly and assertively. Key advice includes:

1. Remain Silent: You have the right to remain silent. You are not required to answer questions about your immigration status, birthplace, or how you entered the country. Say, “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”(ACLU, Know Your Rights).
2. Do Not Sign Anything Without Legal Counsel: Signing documents can lead to removal without a hearing. Insist on speaking with a lawyer first. (National Immigration Law Center NILC).
3. Ask to Speak to an Attorney: You have the right to a lawyer, though not at government expense in immigration proceedings. Say clearly, “I want to speak to a lawyer.” (Immigrant Legal Resource Center ILRC).
4. Do Not Lie or Provide False Documents: Lying to immigration officers or providing fake documents is a criminal offense and can harm your case.
5. Carry a Know Your Rights Card: This card states your right to remain silent and request an attorney. Hand it to the officer if you are afraid to speak. *
6. Do Not Open the Door Without a Warrant: If ICE comes to your home, you are not required to open the door unless they present a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Administrative warrants (I-200 or I-205) are not sufficient.
7. Document the Encounter: If safe, take note of officers’ names, badge numbers, and what was said. This can support future legal challenges.

These basic rights and strategies can help protect individuals from coercion or unlawful detention. It’s critical that immigrants and their families are prepared in advance and have an emergency plan.

*Immigrant rights cards and instructions on what to do in encounters with the authorities at the homes of immigrants or elsewhere can be printed in nineteen different languages using the options provided by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center on its website: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas.