Immigration Plans and Bans Continue to Change: Know Your Rights

The last few months have been turbulent. Many immigrants have expressed fear, sadness and anger over the proposed immigration plans coming out of the White House, and over the executive orders and travel bans. Now, more than ever, it is important to know your rights

1. You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to incriminate yourself.
2. You have the right to deny consent to a search. If a police officer, an ICE agent, or anyone else tries to search you or your belongings without a warrant, you can say “no.”
3. You have the right to leave. Unless a law enforcement officer says you are under arrest, you have the right to walk away after you have been stopped, or from any situation that you feel is unsafe.
4. You have the right to retain an immigration lawyer. If you are arrested or detained, you can work with an attorney.
5. You have the right not to sign documentation. If an ICE officer takes you into custody, sign nothing without a lawyer present. You could inadvertently agree to be deported.
6. You have the right to contact your consulate. If you are here on vacation, on a business trip, on a visa, or for any reason, you can contact your consulate for help.

The ACLU provides a free pocket guide to help you in case you are approached, detained or arrested, which you can print out and carry with you.

When do you want an immigration lawyer to help you?

If you have been arrested or detained, you want an experienced immigration lawyer on your side, preferably one who has experience handling criminal defense cases, like Perry Craft does. However, you may wish to consult with an attorney before any actions are taken against you. This is because certain Constitutional rights are guaranteed to all people in this country, not just citizens. If you are here on a visa, with a passport, or by other means, or if you are a permanent resident, you may need the assistance of an immigration attorney if:

• Your rights have been threatened.
• You have been harassed by local law enforcement or other state or federal agents.
• You have been threatened with detention.
• Your family has been threatened in some way – either directly, or indirectly.
• You are concerned about your current immigration status.
• You have noticed a mistake of some kind in your documentation.

Working with a skilled Nashville immigration attorney can help you avoid problems in the future. It can also make the difference between whether you are allowed to stay in the U.S., or whether you are deported.

At the Law Office of Perry A. Craft, PLLC, we help immigrants who have been accused of crimes or are facing removal from the country. To work with immigration lawyer Perry Craft, please call 615-953-3808, or fill out this contact form.