Know Your Rights: Federal Immigration Enforcement

Last updated January 9, 2025

MOIA’s Know Your Rights with ICE Booklets

If ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents approach you, you have rights! Download our Know Your Rights with Ice Booklet in multiple languages to learn more about what to do in an encounter with immigration enforcement.

Get Legal Help

All immigrant New Yorkers can access free and confidential immigration legal help in their preferred language.

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) provides the following information and services to support immigrant New Yorkers navigate the U.S. immigration system and build their lives and futures in New York.

MOIA Legal Support Centers

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has Legal Support Centers in immigrant neighborhoods that offers New Yorkers free, safe immigration legal help. These centers are housed in community sites, public health facilities, public schools, and libraries. Services are provided in your language. Your immigration status does not matter.

Visit our webpage on MOIA Legal Support Centers to learn more about legal services.

Video: Your Rights in an Encounter with ICE

If ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents approach you, you have rights! Watch this video to learn more about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) by watching this video.

What to do after a friend or family member is detained by ICE/Immigration

MOIA's Frequently Asked Questions Booklets on ICE Detention

If ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents detained your friend or family member, there may be resources available for them. Download our Frequently Asked Questions Booklet in multiple languages to learn more. This booklet only gives general information. It is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.

Additional Resources

Immigrant Rights Workshops (IRW)

The City is partnering with community organizations to help currently residing and newly arrived immigrants know their basic legal rights through Immigrant Rights Workshops (IRWs).

IRWs provide immigrant New Yorkers with the tools and training necessary to navigate and access city services. IRWs cover an array of topics, including how to navigate interactions with federal immigration enforcement (ICE), avoid fraudulent legal services, access COVID-related services, and more. IRWs also help guide immigrants to free and safe immigration legal and social services.

Avoid Becoming the Victim of Immigration Fraud

"Immigration fraud" means immigration legal services-related scams that target vulnerable immigrant New Yorkers. Immigration fraud, as described here, can be by attorneys and non-attorneys. It can also be by others who engage in other fraudulent acts such as phone scams and impersonations threatening immigration consequences. Immigration fraud is widespread in immigrant communities and the consequences can be severe – for those committing fraud and their victims.

Learn more about avoiding fraud

Immigrant Caregivers & Standby Guardianship

If you are an immigrant caregiver (including a parent, a legal guardian, a legal custodian, or other relative) who is worried that you may be separated from your child because of immigration enforcement, get help to plan for the future by:

• Contacting a free and trusted legal services provider for advice and information.

• Choosing a standby guardian, also known as a “backup” caregiver, in case you are unable to take care of your child.

• Choosing an emergency contact and memorizing their phone number. This should be someone you trust, including someone like your lawyer.

• Updating emergency contact information at your child’s school.

For more information about standby guardianship, please visit our Immigrant Caregivers page