Rep. Rashida Tlaib and other local leaders held a press conference Wednesday urging residents to know their rights as increased immigration enforcement efforts are underway across the country.
Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero kicked off the meeting and said, “I’m an immigrant. I was born in Mexico, I was raised here in Southwest Detroit since I was two years old. This country is a nation of immigrants.”
She discussed how the community is being impacted, and said that residents are concerned because people who have been here for decades, with no criminal histories, are being deported.
Due to this, Santiago-Romero, Tlaib and others joined together to share resources and help residents understand what their rights are.
“So yes, our immigrant neighbors are now being under attack,” Tlaib said during the press conference. “They’re trying to distract us from everything else they’re doing right now at the White House, but I want the current Trump administration to know you’re not going to divide us by stroking fear in our communities and targeting our immigrant neighbors. Many of which have been here for decades.”
Tlaib discussed the rich immigrant community in the area and said “Not on our watch” when it comes to racist policies and illegal action by immigration agents.
She said local leaders are here to educate the community on what to know about their rights.
“No matter your immigration status in the United States, you have constitutional rights,” said Tlaib.
Tlaib shared the following information about residents' rights:
- Don’t open the door if an immigration agent comes knocking. ICE doesn’t have the right to enter your home without a valid warrant signed by a judge. You can ask them to slip the warrant under the door.
- Don’t answer any questions to an immigration agent if they try to speak with you. You have the right to remain silent and you don’t have to sign anything.
- Don’t hand over documents without speaking to a lawyer first.
- Don’t share personal information or provide false documents.
- If you’re in public, ask the agent if you are free to leave.
An attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center also spoke during the event to share resources with the community.
For more about your rights, information on immigration lawyers and family preparedness, visit the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
You can watch the full press conference in the video below.
