Are you worried that you or your family is at risk of a home raid by ICE? Be prepared! Get Organized  Organize your important documents such as:  Personal documents: your passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, and your children’s birth certificates. If you have a medical or mental health condition, also keep those documents available.  Immigration documents: any documents from a past immigration, your “A number” if you have one (an identification number that begins with “A” and that immigration gives you if you ever have a case), and the name and contact information of any previous immigration attorney.  Criminal court documents: if you have ever been arrested, make sure you get a copy of the certificate of disposition for that arrest along with the name and contact information of your criminal attorney.  You can keep these documents in a locked box at home. It is important that neither you nor your family members give ICE your passport.  Keep a list of important phone numbers  Carry a small card in your wallet with a list of important phone numbers of family members, previous lawyers, doctors, etc. Also include the contact information of someone who can be directly in touch with your future immigration lawyer.*  If an immigration or criminal attorney has ever represented you, keep a list of their name and contact information.  Have the name and number of your organizer and make sure your family member calls them. We want to support your family during this time!  You can also call the Immigrant Defense Project’s Hotline to let them know about this raid! #(212) 725-6422 Plan for your family to be taken care of and to take care of you!  If you have children, decide who will take care of them in case something happens and make sure that person agrees. Make sure you have the person’s phone number on your “list of important numbers.”  When it comes to arranging for someone to have responsibility over your children, you have three options. The well-being and care of your children is important – which is why you should think carefully before siding on any of the options below and consult an attorney when necessary. If you live in New York City and are a person of low-income, it is possible that you might be able to get a free, city lawyer in your immigration deportation case. * 1. You can informally leave your children with someone you trust. They cannot make legal decisions for your child and the arrangement doesn’t give them any legal authority over your child. 2. You can make arrangements with a Power of Attorney document, which is a temporary agreement where you give the caretaker some power to make certain parental decisions on your behalf. You must have this form notarized and should also be able to do this process while in detention, although it might be more difficult. You can cancel this arrangement at any time. Attached is an example of a Power of Attorney document – this is just an example and you should draft one more specific to your needs. 3. You can give legal custody or guardianship to your trusted relative or friend. This is a legal proceeding that is much more complicated and binding process that requires you to go to family court to obtain an order, which might limit your parental rights and might be harder to reverse after it is finalized. You should discuss this option with an attorney before committing to this legal proceeding.  In order for your family to be able to care for you, choose someone you trust to make decisions for you if are detained. That person can sign a Power of Attorney agreement which will allow them to do things like get money from your bank account, access confidential documents, or pay important bills.  If you have medical health issues, you can also prepare a HIPAA Release, which will allow your relative access to your medical records. (See attached) Action Plan During a Raid  Make an action plan with the people you live with about what to do if ICE shows up at your home and detains you. 1. Do not lie to ICE but remember that you do have the right to stay silent! 2. Agree that someone who is not being targeted will be ready with pen and paper to write down exactly what happens, in the order it happens. 3. Have that person write down the time of day, how many ICE officers came to the home, whether they identified themselves, what they said, how they entered, whether they had a warrant, and what information was on that warrant. 4. Have that person immediately contact one of our organizers. At Make the Road New York, we want to know exactly what ICE agents are doing so we can fight against it! We can also help your family call IDP’s hotline to report the raid to them. Finally, although you may not be able to prevent yourself or your loved one from being arrested by ICE, these action steps will ensure that your attorney has the necessary information to defend you, and will also help inform your community about what ICE is doing - and how we can stop it!