• You can “remain silent.”
• If you do not have status, you have the choice of not speaking, nor answering any questions.
  • You can say, “I am using my right to remain silent” or
  • Give them your Know Your Rights card, if you have one.

The Downey Police Department also does not interfere or obstruct federal law enforcement activities. Doing so is a violation of the law, specifically, 18 U.S.C §1505.

• You have the right to remain silent
• You may call a lawyer
• You may receive visits from a lawyer, your consulate, and your family if you are detained.

(All jails have lists of phone numbers for consulates. Ask to see the list.)

• You have the right to a lawyer, but the government will not pay for one. It’s best to connect with an immigration lawyer BEFORE anything happens.
  Remember: You have a better chance of winning your case if you have a lawyer because immigration law is complicated. Your lawyer must keep what you tell them private (unless you give them permission).
• If you have ties to the U.S. or will be in danger if you get deported, you may be able to fight your deportation by asking for asylum, cancellation of removal, or other types of protection from deportation.
• If they do not let you talk to an immigration judge, you are fast-tracked for deportation, also called expedited removal. You should tell your deportation officer if you are afraid to return to your country and ask to see an immigration judge.
• If you already have a final deportation order, immigration can deport you without seeing a judge unless you quickly move to have your old immigration court case reopened.

To read more about options to fight deportation and how to defend yourself without a lawyer, click here: acaciajustice.org/legal-resources/resources/ and here: https://firrp.org/es/resources/prose/

• If you are a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration status: Show your passport, legal permanent resident card, work permit, or other documentation of your status. If you are over the age of 18, you should carry your papers with you at all times.

Generally speaking, unless you work in a public space, ICE cannot enter your workplace without a warrant signed by a judge or permission from your employer or someone else who is authorized to use and let others into your workplace. 

If you feel comfortable, talk to your employer and co-workers in advance to make sure they know they should not let ICE into your workplace without a warrant. 

• The best way for workers to protect their rights is to stay silent and ask for an attorney.
• Workers do not have to hand over any IDs or papers to ICE. All workers have this right.
• Any information that workers give to ICE can be used against them later.
• Immigration agents can enter a private area ONLY IF they have a judicial warrant.
• A judicial warrant must be signed by a judge and say “U.S. District Court” or a State Court at the top.
• Without a judicial warrant, ICE agents need YOUR permission to enter private areas of your business.
• If ICE agents try to enter a private area, you should say: “This is a private area. You cannot enter without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Do you have a judicial warrant?”
• If ICE agents tell you that they have a judicial warrant, ask for a copy and read it. The employer can accept the warrant but still decline to consent to the search.
• Sometimes, ICE agents try to use an administrative warrant to enter. But an administrative warrant does NOT allow agents to enter private areas without your permission. Administrative warrants are not from a court. They say “Department of Homeland Security” and are on Forms I-200 or I-205.

Office of Immigrant Affairs – https://oia.lacounty.gov/immigration-fraud/ 

If you need help applying for immigration relief, be careful who you hire. Watch out for immigration scams that can cost you thousands of dollars and/or harm your immigration status! Here are some tips and resources to help:

• Go to a legitimate legal aid organization for free legal help. Many nonprofit organizations provide free immigration help to low-income individuals, such as those found through the resources below. To find a legal aid organization near you, go to lawhelpca.org.
• Keep your original documents in a safe place. Don't give your original documents to anyone unless you see proof that the government requires the original document. If you give someone an original, they may lose it or refuse to return it unless you pay them.
• Do not hire an immigration consultant or a notary. Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Immigration consultants – who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals – cannot do so.
• Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter. No federal or state agency, including USCIS, will ever ask for your personal information or payment over the phone, by email, or text.

Federal enforcement in Downey and elsewhere has expanded beyond targeted investigations to also include broad enforcement.

Targeted enforcement can take place at homes, in neighborhoods and at businesses with a judicial warrant or administrative warrant and can involve deportation orders or suspicion of criminal activity.

Broader enforcement efforts include questioning of "collaterals" — others onsite at the scene of enforcement who are not the initial focus — or "consensual stops" where an officer asks someone out in public if they can talk to them.

It is important to know that federal agencies have the legal right to conduct enforcement operations here and across the country based on actions by Congress, court decisions and the U.S. Code. You can see the U.S. Code section here.

Workshops and Events

City of Downey in Partnership with  Community Legal Aid SoCal

Additional workshops will be announced on social media.

Previous Workshops were held on July 29, 2025 and August 13, 2025. September 24, 2025 Workshop cancelled due to no registration. 

Other Workshops 

Visit the Office of Immigrant Affairs Events Calendar for free virtual, in person and hybrid "Know Your Rights" workshops, resource fairs, and community events for immigrant communities: oia.lacounty.gov/calendar

Food Pantries

ICE Online Detainee Locator System

To locate a loved one that has been detained for more than 48 hours, visit the ICE Online Detainee Location System

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) Video on How to Identify Deputies in the Field

Click here to watch video shared by LASD. 

Immigrant Defenders Law Center

Call 213-833-8283 to assist a relative or community member who has been detained by Immigration Enforcement. Calls will be responded to Monday - Friday from 9am-4pm. 

Immigration Enforcement Response Networks 

Please click here to visit the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs website for more information on Response Networks

Immigrant Legal Resource Center Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan:

• English | Español – This form can be filled out online, downloaded, and printed.

Protect Yourself from Immigration Scams

• Office of Immigrant Affairs – https://oia.lacounty.gov/immigration-fraud/  
• State of California Department of Justice Attorney General Bonta  
  • Protect Yourself from Immigration Scams Consumer Alert
    • English
    • Español
    • Chinese(Simplified)
    • Korean
    • Tagalog
    • Vietnamese

Immigration Legal Help

RepresentLA service providers offer support in different areas. Please note that capacity is limited and varies by organization. For more information, please reach out to each organization using the links below:

• Access California
• Al Otro Lado 
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California  
• Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) 
• Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) 
• Council on American-Islamic Relations-CA (CAIR-LA) 
• Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project 
• Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) 
• National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) 
• Public Counsel 
• Immigrant Legal Assistance Center – USC Gould School of Law Immigration Clinic

National Immigration Legal Services Directory

• Search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included in this directory. 

Federal Government Representatives

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D)

Local Office:
To Be Announced
(310) 914-7300

Washington Office:
Hart Senate Office
Building #112
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3841

www.schiff.senate.gov

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D)

Local Office:
255 E. Temple St
Suite 1860
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(310) 231-4494 | (202) 224-0357

Washington Office:
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553
(202) 224-2200 fax
padilla.senate.gov 

U.S. Congress Member - 42nd Dist., Robert Garcia (D)

Local Office:
415 West Ocean Blvd
Suite 200
Long Beach, CA  90802

Washington Office:
1305 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-7924
https://robertgarcia.house.gov/

U.S. Congress Member - 38th Dist., Linda Sanchez (D)

Local Office:
15111 Whittier Blvd., Suite 220
Whittier, CA  90603
(562) 860-5050
Fax (562) 924-2914

Washington Office:
2428 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6676

Fax (2020) 226-1012
https://lindasanchez.house.gov/

Know Your Rights Cards at City Facilities.

You can also download and print cards by clicking on the links below:

Know Your Rights Card - English

Tarjeta Conozca Sus Derechos - Spanish