Know Your Rights: What to Do Right Now
A community resource from the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CIRH)
We know this is a stressful time for many in our community.
Below are steps you can take right now to stay informed, stay safe, and support one another.
If You Are at Risk of Detention
I. Prepare Your Home & Essentials
If you prefer to stay at home for a while, consider stocking up on food, medicines, and other necessities.
II. Consider Your Risk Before Going Out
Your safety is the priority. If you are at higher risk of being impacted by ICE activity, avoid high-traffic community spaces such as Home Depot, the flea market, and similar gathering areas.
Note: It is generally safe to go to schools or hospitals, specifically:
Schools do not allow immigration enforcement onto a school campus unless the agency has a warrant signed by a judge that has been reviewed by the district's legal team.
School staff are prohibited from sharing any information about any student's or family’s immigration status.
If possible, we encourage you to coordinate pick-ups and drop-offs with neighbors and family members with legal status.
III. If You Leave Home
Carry your red Know Your Rights (KYR) card.
Save your county’s Rapid Response Hotline numbers as “Favorites” in your phone for quick dialing.
Share these numbers widely with friends, family, and neighbors.
IV. Protect Your Important Information
Keep essential documents and contact information in a safe, accessible place or with a trusted person. Ask that person to call the Rapid Response Hotline if you or a loved one is detained.
To receive immediate legal help, your loved one will need to provide:
Full name
A-number (if available)
Date of birth
Country of origin
If You Have Legal Status
If you know people in your community who may be impacted, please reach out to them and see if they need support staying home. Offer them rides to school or work, or grocery runs.
Know Your Rights Resources
Guides & Tools
Rapid Response Reference Guide – Project ANAR
Creating a Family Preparedness Plan – Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Immigrant Students’ Rights to Attend Public Schools – Intercultural Development Research Association
Immigration Guidance at School for Educators and Families – National Education Association
Guide for Undocumented Individuals Traveling in the U.S. – Immigrants Rising
Talk to an immigration lawyer – Find an expert to get individualized legal advice
Virtual Supports
Mental Health Connector – Immigrants Rising
Free, virtual, confidential mental health services for undocumented students in California (ages 18–45). Eligible applicants will be matched with a therapist on a first-come, first-served basis and will close once capacity is reached.The Ready Now App – Human Rights First’s Innovation Lab
A secure mobile tool for immigrants concerned about deportation or family separation: developed in partnership with the NILRA, immigration attorneys, community advocates, and cybersecurity experts, to ensure the app is not only effective but safe to use, especially under the uniquely hostile enforcement environment of the current administration. The app works on iPhones and Android.
Data Tools for Staying Informed
The Deportation Data Project
Updated individual-level ICE enforcement data, which now covers Sep. 2023 through Jul. 29, 2025. The new dataset includes tables tracking all ICE encounters, detainers, arrests, and detentions.The California Immigrant Data Portal
A resource and progress tracker for immigrants and those serving immigrant communities across the state of California. This portal presents data and case studies that can be used to better