how to support immigrants right now

Here are ways of showing up for your community and standing in solidarity with those who are being targeted by ice. If you notice any outdated info. on this page, or have new info. to share, please contact us.

a note about the term: know your rights (k.y.r.)

You’ll see this term pop-up often. KYR is a term advocates use to provide people, in this case immigrants and protestors, with info. that can be super helpful when confronting ice or other law enforcement agencies. As we have seen in these raids, and other protests, government agencies will violate anyone’s civil rights. But, knowing your rights can make a huge difference.

post k.y.r. solidarity signs

These are two-sided signs that can be posted on the windows of businesses. The public-facing side (facing outside) asserts that ice is not welcome in the establishment without a judicial warrant, and the other (interior-facing) side has KYR info. that is visible to staff and patrons.

○ Immigrant Legal Resource Center KYR solidarity Signs

ILRC designed two colorways, blue and orange. They also provided designs that can be sent to professional print shops, and options that can be printed at home.

● Download solidarity sign, professional print file, English, blue ⬇︎

● Download solidarity sign, professional print file, English, orange ⬇︎

● Download solidarity sign, professional print file, Español, azul ⬇︎

● Download solidarity sign, professional print file, Español, anaranjado ⬇︎

● Download solidarity signs, print-at-home, EN & ES, blue/azul ⬇︎

● Download solidarity signs, print-at-home, EN & ES, orange/anaranajado ⬇︎

● For more information about the signs, go to website ➞

instructions

Download pdf'; depending on the pdf you chose, you’ll either send the file to a print shop, or print copies at home; then post the signs on the windows of your business, or ask the businesses in your area to post them. You’ll likely want to use rubber cement on each corner or double-sided transparent tape. Alternatively, if you don’t have windows to display this sign, make separate one-side copies. Post the appropriate page outside, and the opposite page inside.

post k.y.r. signs and one sheets

The same information that is found on KYR cards, is helpful on signs that are posted on a wall at work, at homes next to the front door (inside so they can be read while ice is outside), or in public areas on light posts, parks, trees, community boards.

○ AFL-CIO KYR Posters/Flyers

● Download pdf in English & Español ⬇︎, or go to website ➞

○ Immigrant Legal Resource Center KYR One Sheet

● Download pdf in English & Español ⬇︎, or go to website ➞

instructions

Download the PDFs of your choice, print copies, and post them where people might need them. Offer them to businesses in your area so they can also post them.

print and distribute documents that can help immigrants

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center writes, “If you have access to a printer, there are many ways you can spread crucial Know Your Rights information[.]” You can also visit the library and print free copies. They have limits to how many copies you can make per day, but its more than you might assume.

k.y.r. cards (red cards)

KYR cards are credit card sized informational cards that provide guidance for folks if they find themselves confronted by ice. People carry these in their wallets to have handy in case of an emergency. It is customary to print them on red paper so that they are more easily found in a stressful situation. There are many designs out there and organizations will often make them free and accessible to the public. We like the cards that have a blank line where folks can write down the number of their attorney, so they can invoke their fifth amendment right to now speak until their lawyer is present. Use the links below to download the PDFs.

choose from these options

○ AFL-CIO KYR Cards

● Download pdf in English & Español ⬇︎, or go to website ➞

○ CHIRLA KYR Card

● Download pdf in English ⬇︎, or go to website ➞

○ Immigration Legal Resource Center Red Cards

● Download pdf in English ⬇︎, Español ⬇︎, or go to website ➞

○ National Immigration Law Center KYR Cards

● Download pdf in English ⬇︎, Español ⬇︎, or go to website English ➞, Español ➞

○ Union del Barrio Red Cards | Tarjetas Rojas

● Download JPGs in English, Español, & แบบไทย (Thai) ⬇︎

instructions

Download the pdf, then print these cards on either red or white letter-sized (8.5”x11”) paper, and hand them out to folks or make a stack available for people to grab. If you can swing it, send the cards out to be printed by a professional print shop and ask for them to be coated with a gloss finish or a UV coating. This makes them a sturdier and more water resistant.

print and share “emergency family preparedness plan” documents

According to We Have Rights:

An Emergency Plan is a document everyone should have to protect themselves and their families in case of an emergency…or arrest and detention by ICE. Do not carry your emergency plan around with you! Keep it in a safe place… Only share the location of your…plan with trusted friends and relatives. Make sure they know where it is, why it is important, and how to get it in case you are arrested by ICE. Never share your emergency plan with ice agents!

options

○ Immigrant Legal Resource Center “Family Preparedness Plan”

● Download pdf ⬇︎, descargar versión completa ⬇︎

● Go to website ➞, ir al sitio web ➞

○ We Have Rights “Emergency Plan” | “Plan de Emergencia”

● Download pdf ⬇︎, descargar documento ⬇︎

● Go to website | ir al sitio web ➞

instructions

Download pdf, print copies, and distribute them.

print and distribute a checklist of important documents

In case a person is detained by ice, families are encouraged to have a folder in a safe place with important documents that will be needed to locate a loved one in custody, and to potentially have them released. According to CHIRLA, in order for the folder to be located if the time should come, other people must know where the folder is in advance, but only trusted people should know where it is and they should never tell ice about the folder or its whereabouts.

○ CHIRLA List of Important Documents and Information | Lista de Documentos y Contactos Importantes ⬇︎

Instructions: Download the pdf, print copies, and distribute them.

print and distribute copies of the caregiver authorization affidavit

This form can be signed and kept with other important documents and is written to take effect in the event of a parent's detention. It allows a parent to designate an adult over the age of 18 as a "person in parental relation" and authorizes that person to make health and educational decisions for the child for periods of up to twelve months. It does not require going to court to complete this. It must be signed by the parents and the designated caregiver.

● Download a guide in Español | descargar guía ⬇︎

● Download the official document | descargar documento oficial ⬇︎

● Go to website ➞, ir al sitio web ➞

instructions

Download both pdfs, and visit the website to learn more details about the affidavit, then print copies and distribute them.

refer vulnerable folks to toolkits that help them prepare for the worst

Immigrant rights organizations have created toolkits that help vulnerable people and their families stay ready in case they are confronted with ice, or detained.

three different toolkits

○ chirla “my rights” toolkit ➞

○ ”we have rights” | “tenemos derechos” toolkit ➞

○ immigrant legal resource center “know your rights” toolkit ➞

propose or host a teach-in

Teach-ins are informal lectures, workshops, or classes on a subject of public interest. We use the teach-in format for our movie nights. Folks all over the country are hosting teach-ins to address the immigration raids. A teach-in can be KYR-focused where folks are told taught about the different KYR materials, watch KYR videos, and get assistance filling out KYR documents. A teach-in can be structured around the KYR toolkit where everyone goes through the toolkit together.

train-the-trainer pre-recorded webinar and deck for immigration advocates ➞

join an organization in your community, or start one.

There are many organizations on the ground that mobilized as soon as ice showed up. There are different types of organizations to consider.

Rapid response networks show up to places that are actively being raided by ice, in order to provide free legal services, and they document ice activities, because as we’ve witnessed, ice violates the law and our civil rights.

Mutual aid organizations consist of community members (often your neighbors) who go out and find money, food, and other necessities for folks who are too scared to leave their homes, or they provide for families who are suffering financially after having their head-of-household detained.

Unlike mutual aid orgs, Non-profit organizations almost always rely on philanthropy and donations. Sometimes they provide relief directly, but other times they funnel resources to other organizations on the ground.

Immigration advocacy groups work to change or reform policies at the government level, they might create legal networks to provide pro bono legal advice or representation, and they make resources to help immigrants become better prepared.

Political organizations work toward community self-determination and defend communities from oppressive state violence and injustice.

Religious organizations consists of congregations who do charity work, but some are more radical and function more like mutual aid orgs.

Centros are community centers that most often serve as decolonial sites of rēsistance, places where mutual aid and organizing happen, and venues for radical self-care.

Collectives are groups of people who work together to create change. Oftentimes, they create art as activism.

Then, there are coalitions which are made up of many different types of organizations. They band together to more effectively address emergencies or pressing issues. We have listed some below.

rapid response networks

coalition for humane immigrant rights (chirla)

CHIRLA is primarily a membership-based organization, but they also take volunteers. It’s a rapid response network, but also an immigrant rights advocacy group, and a coalition. For more info. go to chirla.org.