Federal agents may violate your rights. Be prepared.

If ICE comes to your home, do not open the door for them unless they show you a warrant signed by a judge with your correct name and address on it. The ICE agent may hold the warrant up to a window or slide it under the door.

You may have read advice like the above in the “know your rights” materials circulated by groups like MIRAC, Unidos MN or the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. The key thing to be aware of here is that “administrative” warrants like the I-200 or I-205—which are signed by immigration officials—do not authorize ICE agents to enter a residence without permission. Only a judicial warrant grants agents authorization to enter, by force if necessary.

However, according to a whistleblower report filed last week, an internal memo has authorized ICE agents to forcibly enter homes without a judicial warrant. The report claims that ICE trainees are being told to follow the memo’s guidance rather than their written training materials. The legality of this is dubious to say the least, and I recommend reading this Associated Press article for more details.

What’s important for community members to know is this: Forced entries are likely to increase in and around Minneapolis. You should be prepared for ICE to potentially violate your rights if they come to your home. For your own safety and the safety of others, make sure you know what to do when that happens.

If ICE agents are refused entry and decide to come barreling through your door anyways, they are going to be armed and prepared to use deadly force at a moment’s notice. The safest thing you can do is to comply with any and all commands given, protesting verbally but not physically. You do not want to appear as a threat (or give them any reason they can spin into some bullshit excuse that you were a domestic terrorist). Really, it’s not worth your life.

You should remember as many details as you can from the interaction, recording audio and/or video if possible (but do not livestream it); and write down as much as you can afterward. This will give you the greatest chance of recourse in demanding justice after the interaction. Depending on your circumstances, civil rights organizations such as CAIR or the Minnesota ACLU may be able to provide legal assistance for your case.

In general, try to keep up to date with what civil rights and immigrants’ rights organizations are advising. This is a developing situation, so it’s important to stay informed.

But most of all, I ask that everyone reading this simply continue to look out for your neighbors. If you see ICE in your neighborhood, let others know so we can collectively document and witness these violations. Here are three ways you can do that:

• Call the MONARCA rapid response line at 612-441-2881 and describe the situation.
• Send a message in your local Signal chat. We try to keep up-to-date instructions on joining in our Community Resource Guide.
• Honk your vehicle’s horn or step outside and blow a whistle. The LHENA office at 24th and Dupont has a supply of whistles that are free for anyone to take.

Folks around our great city have been doing these things since day one of Operation Metro Surge, and it has made an immense difference in the public perception of this occupation. People across the nation and even overseas are bearing witness to the illegal and appalling stories taking place in Minnesota. The truth cannot be ignored, and the federal government will have to answer for the lies and the violence that it has directed at our community.

Stay strong and keep on loving.

This article is not legal advice. Please contact a lawyer if you have legal questions.