Know Your Rights
Your rights matter. Stay informed and protected.
At Dominicanos USA, we believe in empowering immigrant communities by ensuring everyone understands their rights. Whether at home, work, or in public spaces, your rights matter and deserve protection.
Your Basic Rights
- The Right to Remain Silent: You have the right to remain silent. If approached by law enforcement or immigration officers, you can say, “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”
- The Right to an Attorney: You can request to speak with an attorney before answering any questions. You do not have to sign anything without legal advice.
- Protection Against Unlawful Search and Seizure: Officers cannot search you, your home, or your belongings without a valid warrant signed by a judge.
If You Are Stopped by Police or Immigration Officers
- Stay calm and polite. Do not run, resist, or obstruct the officers.
- Ask if you are free to leave. If they say yes, calmly walk away.
- If detained, do not answer questions without consulting a lawyer.
If Immigration Officials Come to Your Home
- Do not open the door unless they show you a warrant signed by a judge.
- Ask them to slide the warrant under the door or show it through a window.
- You have the right to remain silent and refuse to let them in without a warrant.
If You Are at Work
- Your employer cannot allow immigration officers to search your workplace without a warrant.
- You have the right to remain silent and consult an attorney.
Helpful Tips
- Always carry any valid immigration documentation with you, if applicable.
- Memorize or keep written contact information for a trusted attorney or organization that provides legal aid.
- Do not sign any documents you do not understand.
