Latest news with #ImmigrantLegalResourceCenter
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
How ILRC's 'Red Cards' can help protect immigrants during ICE encounters
[Source] As immigration enforcement actions grow under the Trump administration, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center's 'Red Cards' remain a practical, trusted tool for asserting legal rights during encounters with ICE. Immigrants — and anyone who might face questioning by authorities — are encouraged to download and carry these cards, and to share them widely with family, friends and neighbors. The wallet-sized cards provide clear, legally grounded instructions based on constitutional protections. They outline the right to remain silent, the right not to open the door without a judge-signed warrant, the right to refuse to sign documents, and the right to speak with a lawyer — regardless of immigration status. Originally created in 2007, the Red Cards are available for free in 39 languages at The ILRC recommends printing them on red cardstock with rounded corners to improve durability and visibility. They are designed to be kept easily accessible in a wallet or near a front door. Since 2020, more than 9 million cards have been downloaded — more than in the previous 17 years combined. Though not part of a current ILRC campaign, the Red Cards continue to be shared informally by educators, advocacy groups and legal clinics. The organization urges users to avoid third-party sellers and download only from its official website to ensure legal accuracy. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump's legal orders' impact: how is the Immigration Enforcement wave flooding and how you can help
Amidst the Trump administration's intensified 2025 immigration crackdown, families like Rosario Gonzalez's are facing immense challenges. Detained in a workplace ICE raid, Gonzalez, a Long Beach grandfather, embodies the sweeping changes impacting undocumented immigrants nationwide. Advocacy groups are mobilizing to provide legal aid, community support, and policy advocacy in response to the administration's aggressive enforcement strategies. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Advocacy efforts supporting families Legal Aid and Representation: Groups such as the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Immigrant Defenders Law Center, and local legal defense funds provide pro bono legal services to detainees, helping navigate complex immigration courts and challenging deportations. Mutual Aid Networks: Grassroots volunteer groups deliver groceries, provide transportation to court and medical appointments, and offer emotional support to families afraid to leave their homes due to ICE activity. Know Your Rights Education: Nonprofits conduct workshops to educate immigrants on their legal rights during ICE encounters, helping reduce fear and misinformation. Policy Advocacy: Organizations lobby for immigration reform, sanctuary policies, and humane treatment of detainees, while challenging unlawful enforcement actions in court. Community Solidarity Events: Protests like the 'No Kings' movement in Long Beach highlight community resistance to aggressive deportations and build public awareness. Legal context: The Trump administration's 2025 Immigration Enforcement agenda Executive Orders on Enforcement: The administration issued multiple executive orders mandating 'total and efficient enforcement' of immigration laws. These orders emphasize enhanced border control, expanded use of expedited removal, and increased detention capacity. Criminal Prosecution of Immigration Violations: For the first time, federal prosecutors are directed to aggressively pursue criminal charges related to immigration paperwork violations, harboring undocumented individuals, and unlawful entry—offenses that historically have been handled primarily as civil matters. State and Local Cooperation: The administration is pressuring states and local governments to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation face threats of losing federal funding and prosecution of local officials under conspiracy and harboring statutes. Expanded Registration and Penalties: Undocumented individuals are required to register with DHS, with civil and criminal penalties for failure to do so. The government also imposes fines on undocumented immigrants and those assisting them. Legal Challenges: Some 2025 policies, such as restrictions on birthright citizenship, face ongoing legal challenges, but enforcement continues amid these disputes. Historical background: Trends in Immigration Enforcement Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Shift from Prioritizing Serious Criminals to Broad Enforcement: Earlier policies focused on deporting individuals with serious criminal convictions. The 2025 approach broadens enforcement to include anyone unlawfully present or violating paperwork requirements, increasing the pool of potential detainees. Increased Use of Detention: The administration is expanding detention facilities and prolonging detention periods, often holding immigrants far from their families and legal counsel, as in Gonzalez's case. Criminalization of Civil Immigration Violations: By prosecuting immigration paperwork offenses as criminal acts, the administration is blurring the line between civil and criminal immigration processes, increasing the stakes for undocumented individuals. Sanctuary City Crackdowns: The administration targets sanctuary jurisdictions through funding cuts and legal action against officials who refuse to cooperate with ICE. The human cost and broader implications As the Trump administration's 2025 immigration crackdown intensifies, advocacy groups and communities across the country are mobilizing to support families like that of Rosario Gonzalez, a 50-year-old Long Beach grandfather and father of five who was recently detained in a workplace ICE raid. Gonzalez, the family's primary breadwinner and a nearly three-decade resident of the U.S., now faces an uncertain future—one emblematic of the sweeping changes reshaping life for undocumented immigrants response to intensified enforcement, a robust network of advocacy organizations and community groups have mobilized to support families like the Gonzalez family:In 2025, the Trump administration launched a sweeping immigration enforcement strategy aimed at 'faithfully executing' immigration laws to their fullest extent. This approach includes mass deportations, expanded arrests, and aggressive prosecution of immigration-related elements of the 2025 policy include:This legal framework has led to a surge in ICE arrests nationwide, including workplace raids like the one leading to Gonzalez's Trump administration's 2025 policies represent a continuation and intensification of enforcement trends that began during Trump's first term (2017–2021):These trends have contributed to widespread fear and disruption in immigrant communities across the Gonzalez family's ordeal—marked by separation, uncertainty, and emotional distress—reflects the human toll of these policies. Being detained far from home, as Gonzalez is in Texas, complicates access to legal counsel and family support, prolonging and elderly family members often bear the brunt of economic and psychological impacts , with many families struggling to maintain stability amid sudden arrests.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Red cards' that give advice for ICE encounters seen locally
When unconfirmed rumors of immigration enforcement activity in Scranton's Hill Section and elsewhere spread online last week, some social media feeds popped with red. 'Red cards,' or 'tarjetas rojas' in Spanish — business-card-size images named for the color — give advice on constitutional legal rights when approached by immigration officials, for noncitizens as well as citizens. The standard red version is put out by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a national nonprofit. The American Civil Liberties Union offers the same basic advice, and its logo often shows up in posts. Supplies of red cards, or their equivalent, have been available at some branches of the Luzerne County library system, the University of Scranton Weinberg Memorial Library and the Needle Law Firm in Scranton. Rose Randazzo of Scranton posted the Immigrant Legal Resource Center red card on her Facebook page Tuesday after hearing the Hill Section rumors. She's an attorney, mostly retired, so she stresses that she's not offering legal advice. She's not in favor of open borders. But many people here illegally are long-term good neighbors, Randazzo said. * A Spanish language red card on the website of the Partnerships to Uplift Communities charter school network in the Los Angeles area. (PUC Schools) * Advice for interactions with ICE on 'red cards.' (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) * Advice for interactions with ICE on 'red cards.' (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) * Advice for interactions with ICE on 'red cards.' (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) * Rose Randazzo of Scranton is one of many who have posted red card advice on social media as ICE enforcement increases. (Rose Randazzo) Show Caption 1 of 5 A Spanish language red card on the website of the Partnerships to Uplift Communities charter school network in the Los Angeles area. (PUC Schools) Expand 'Irrespective of legal status, they do have a right to due process and certain rights under the fourth and fifth amendments, and a lot of these individuals do not understand that,' Randazzo said. The Hazleton Integration Project printed about 100 of its own version of advice for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounters a few months ago. They were gone within a day or so, said Franchesca Aquino, education director at the community center. HIP will print it on request. About 75% of Hazleton residents are Latino, many with roots in the Dominican Republic. It is estimated that a lot are in the country illegally, Aquino said. 'They are a little afraid,' she said. Aquino advises people in the country illegally to stay away from parties, stick close to family and not answer the door if ICE knocks. Generally, the red cards and their equivalent recommend not opening a door to ICE, not answering questions, not consenting to searches and avoiding signing anything without a lawyer. Detentions by ICE are spiking nationwide under the administration of President Donald Trump. With that in mind, Michele Kushmeder, executive director of the Hazleton Public Library, added stacks of a bookmark to the North Church Street library's display of immigration materials a few months ago. It has a QR code that leads to a long list of resources, including red cards. In Lackawanna County, no public libraries currently have red cards on their information tables, said Sandy Longo, executive director of the county library system. Two member libraries have plans. The Carbondale Public Library and the Valley Community Library, in Blakely, will be adding them to the various community resources on their information tables. The Scranton Public Library does not have any plans to have them available, she said. Action Together NEPA, a regional progressive group, is considering ways to assist people who may be approached by ICE, said Communications Director Jessica Brittain. Nationally, ICE does not always announce all detentions, and its officers do not always wear uniforms. Social media rumors of ICE activity in the Hill Section and other areas could not be confirmed. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Social media posts often use puns, such as 'icy in the Hill Section tonight.' Also on social media have been a few calls for ICE to visit specific Northeast Pennsylvania stores and posts celebrating local ICE enforcement actions. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center gives instructions for printing and ordering red cards at They can be printed, or ordered in bulk, with English on one side and any of more than 30 other languages on the other. This week, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce website posted a guide to ICE interactions for businesses in its member news section. It includes an overview of different documents ICE might use. Stevens & Lee, a large East Coast law firm that has offices in Northeast Pennsylvania, offered the materials, said Bob Durkin, president and CEO of the Chamber. The Chamber of Commerce wants businesses to be well informed on issues but has no policy or comment on immigration, Durkin said. The link to the fact sheet is
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us': Rock Falls site of immigration policies protest
Feb. 17—ROCK FALLS — About 30 people gathered on First Avenue bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls on Saturday afternoon to protest immigration policies enacted by the Trump administration. "You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us," said protestor Connie Garza of Rock Falls. "I shed many tears last week." Nora Serrano of Sterling organized the event on Facebook after seeing videos of recent deportations, Serrano said in an interview with Shaw Local. "My family came here looking for the American dream," she said. As of Feb. 7, there have been about 1,000 arrests nationally, with about 100 of them taking place in Chicago and its suburbs, according to the ACLU of Illinois. Illinois is a sanctuary state. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center says Illinois and Oregon are considered among the most protective states for immigrants. About a week ago, the Trump administration sued Illinois, Cook County and Chicago over its respective sanctuary laws. The state's TRUST Act, enacted in 2017, prevents local authorities from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement with civil immigration enforcement or asking people about their immigration status. ExpandAutoplay Image 1 of 8 Nora Serrano, a registered nurse at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, shows off her multi-generational family flag with pride Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, on the First Avenue bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls. (Katie Holloway) Saturday, the group stood bundled against nearly freezing temperatures holding up signs with slogans like "Immigrants Make America Great" and "Families Belong Together" while drivers honked their horns in support. Other signs included "Immigrants Built America" and "Columbus Didn't Discover America, He Invaded It." "I'm a believer in love," protestor Miriam Ferrel said. "Love will win over hate any day." Ferrel, a 2004 graduate of Rock Falls High School, said her grandfather "sacrificed a lot for our family" by migrating to America from Mexico at just 17 years old. She figured that if he could do that, she "can stand out in the snow for a couple hours," Ferrel said in an interview with Shaw Local. Serrano, a registered nurse at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, said she "wants to show that we're not all criminals." Garza's mom is an immigrant from Mexico and her dad is from Texas. Together in Rock Falls, her parents had 13 children, Garza said. Garza, along with her 12 siblings, all grew up in Rock Falls and now have children of their own. All of them work, pay taxes and contribute to the economy, she said. She pointed to her dad in particular, whom she said has brought "so much money into Rock Falls" as the former owner of a Mexican restaurant and radio station. Her mom "helped him with everything" while raising their 13 children, Garza said. Garza's mom died Dec. 20, 2024, she said. "I'm sitting here and screaming for my mom and my family and my culture," Garza said. Another protester, Cytlalik Cadenas Lopez, said her whole family migrated to America from Mexico. First they landed in Chicago, but moved to Ashton in 2004 and have been there ever since. Lopez said she came out to show her support and to be here for those who weren't able to attend. "I think it's wrong that they're splitting up families," Lopez said. Garza said Rock Falls is a "heavily Mexican area... everywhere you turn there are Mexicans." She referenced buying fruit at the grocery store: "Who picked that? And guacamole: "Who made that," Garza asked. "I hate to see people love our culture but hate us," she said.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
What is a Red Card? ILRC helps immigrants understand their constitutional rights
What is a Red Card? ILRC helps immigrants understand their constitutional rights Show Caption Hide Caption What we know: How far can immigration officials go under new laws? From executive orders on birthright citizenship to deputizing federal agents, how far can immigration laws go? Here's what we know. Grassroots immigrant rights efforts have been seen across the United States in response to President Donald Trump's immigration orders - including acts of resistance that fit in the palm of your hand. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center started the ILRC Red Card program almost 20 years ago in 2007 according to representative Donna De La Cruz. From individuals downloading the cards at home to nonprofits who order them thousands at a time, the ILRC has seen a massive increase in utilization of the program in recent months. "There has been a huge uptick since the election," De La Cruz said. "We've had about 9,000,000 requests." Amid promises of "mass deportation," Trump has already enacted a number of anti-immigration policies including ending immigration protection for more than 600,000 Venezuelan immigrants, authorizing immigration enforcement on school campuses, preparing to house 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay and more. Here's what to know about red cards and the ILRC's goals. What is a red card? According to the ILRC website, Red Cards are intended to provide information to all people in the U.S. - regardless of immigration status - on their rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The website says ILRC Red Cards can help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, including when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents go to a home. On one side of the cards, a script designed to help assert Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights is printed. On the other side, advice is listed. Do not open the door if an immigration agent is knocking on the door. Do not answer any questions from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent. Do not sign anything without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer. If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly. Give the card to the agent. If you are inside of your home, show the card through the window or slide it under the door. The ILRC provides printable cards formatted as 3.5 by 2 inch business cards, with versions translated into Spanish and a number of other languages available to allow non-English speaking immigrants to translate their rights with immigration officers. "You could definitely share them at community meetings, with your church groups, with any group that you feel it would be helpful to disseminate," De La Cruz said. As of Feb. 6, demand for the cards is so high that a form allowing nonprofits to access Red Cards for free has been temporarily closed. Paid orders are still available from What is the ILRC? The Immigrant Legal Resource Center, founded as the Golden Gate Immigration Clinic in 1979 by immigrant rights attorney Bill Ong Hing, works to "improve immigration law and policy, expand the capacity of legal service providers, and advance immigrant rights." More: Trump's buyout offer for federal workers paused by judge hours before deadline What are Fifth Amendment rights? The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States states that: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." MoloLamken Law Firm materials explained that when a person "pleads the Fifth" they invoke their "right to remain silent." Silence or refusal to answer questions cannot be used against people who plead the Fifth in a criminal case. Prosecutors cannot argue to the jury that the defendant's silence implies guilt. What is a sanctuary city? Is Asheville, NC a sanctuary city? The American Immigration Council explained that there is no universal definition of a sanctuary city. However, an area may be considered a sanctuary city, county or state if it falls into one of a number of categories. These categories can include policies preventing immigration detention centers, policies restricting the police or other city workers from asking about immigration status, policies refusing to allow ICE into local jails without a judicial warrant and more. In 2019, Sheriff Quentin Miller announced that Buncombe County would no longer honor ICE detainers, holds placed on inmates who federal immigration officials suspect are in the country illegally. A 2024 ICE Detainer Acceptance Report labeled Buncombe County as non-cooperative in enforcement and removal operations. On Trump's first day in office, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded government protocol preventing federal agents from conducting immigration enforcement at "sensitive locations" such as schools and churches. More: After Trump WNC visit, protesters call for further FEMA hotel voucher extensions Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@
