SEATTLE — First and foremost, everyone has rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. This is regardless of your immigration status. 

These rights include the right to due process, legal representation, and the right against unreasonable searches and seizures, among others.

If Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents come to your home, you don't have to open the door. Agents can only enter if they have a search warrant issued by a court and signed by a judge.

With agents, you can communicate with them through the window or a closed door. Do not lie or show false documents.

You have the right to remain silent and to not sign any documents. You also have the right to decline any searches of your car or body unless they have a signed search warrant.

If they do have a search warrant, check if your name and address are correct. If it is not, the warrant is invalid. 

You also have the right to take photos and videos and write down details of what is happening. You can inform the agents that you will be exercising your right to record. You cannot get in the way of their operations. If they ask you to step back, you have to abide. However, they cannot tell you to stop recording. 

So what should happen after an ICE encounter?

"The best course of action is to call our deportation defense hotline, it's run by the WA immigrant solidarity network (WAISN)," said Roxana Norouzi, OneAmerica executive director. "This was both an organization and a hotline that we established under the last Trump administration for this very reason, because there was so much fear and false reports."

WAISN's Deportation Defense Hotline is 1-844-724-3737.

If you are outside of your home and encounter ICE agents, they cannot arrest you unless they have a Warrant of Removal signed by an immigration officer. However, this is not a search warrant, so they cannot search a home, car, body, or property.

If you are driving and are pulled over, the officer can require you to show them your driver's license and insurance information. But you don't have to answer questions about your immigration status. 

If you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed lawyer and the right to make a local phone call. If you are arrested by ICE, you have the right to consult a lawyer, but the government is not required to provide one for you.

There have also been numerous reports on social media of different places where people have seen ICE activity. While the intentions behind these posts may be good, it is sowing a lot of fear into many communities. 

The best way to verify is to check the social media pages of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. They will only post locations and incidents they have verified as true.