Castaneda stressed there’s always been concern over ICE agents knocking on the doors of migrant families. But that anxiety has only heightened.
SAN ANTONIO — Immigrant advocacy groups and legal experts are reminding the migrant community the rights they’re afforded in the event ICE agents come knocking.
“Immigration attorneys like myself try to remind clients of two main things. One, to not forget the fact that they do have certain rights, and two, know how to assert them,” said San Antonio-based immigration lawyer Carlos Castaneda.
It’s been a multi-agency effort nationwide as ICE has ramped up detainment and deportation efforts of migrants federal officials say are largely violent offenders, although some immigration advocates have doubts about whether that’s the only demographic being targeted.
Castaneda stressed there’s always been concern over ICE agents knocking on the doors of migrant families. But that anxiety has only heightened due to the latest headlines of raids taking place.
While raids persist nationwide, including in Texas, Castaneda says it’s vital for people to firstly question who’s on the other side of the door if they suspect ICE is knocking.
“One thing that different organizations including myself do is provide either a short card or a paper that they can slide underneath the door saying hello can you identify yourself by showing me your credentials both in English and in Spanish or something that says that they are asserting their right to remain silent and that they request to have a lawyer,” Castaneda said.
As for Castaneda’s advice for potentially the most vulnerable community members may be approached by ICE:
“For those clients of mine who may have a final deportation order against them, I tell them that they are in my view one of the top priorities independent of any criminal history that they may have and so to be aware of that and to make sure that they don’t violate any local or state laws because that could lead to them ending up in detention and ultimate deportation,” Castaneda said.
As long as judicial search or arrest warrants are shown by federal authorities, ICE agents do have the authority to enter.
Learn more about migrants rights here.