Federal Immigration Agents in the Bay – Know Your Rights

In the middle of a harmful government shutdown, Donald Trump is threatening the Bay Area with his authoritarian theatrics. It is against our values to have our communities used as a staging ground to inflict fear, terror, and state-sponsored violence across the Bay. California has seen this President's playbook already. Terrorizing working-class communities, creating chaos in our streets, and targeting individuals based on their race is no way to enforce immigration, create public safety, or run a country.

This administration does not have free rein to target communities out of spite and politically motivated retaliation. I am confident that California will do all in our power to stand up against this attack on our neighbors.

On Thursday, I was proud to stand alongside our local leaders including Mayor Lee, Congresswoman Simon, Senator Arreguín, Assemblymember Ortega, our Local Law Enforcement, our Faith and Community Leaders, and so many others to strongly condemn Federal agents being deployed to Coast Guard Island in Alameda.

These actions are political, meant to intimidate our communities and silence our values in Oakland and across the country. But we will remain united here in the Bay Area. We will not allow federal immigration enforcement, the National Guard, ICE, or Border Patrol to disrupt our efforts to build a better and brighter East Bay.

We will continue to defend our community, our friends, our neighbors because regardless of citizenship status, because we all deserve to feel safe. We will stand up for our rights with dignity, grace, and peace to ensure every person feels safe in our cities.

Included in this alert are vital resources to empower residents of Assembly District 18 to know and exercise their civil rights under the U.S. Constitution.

If you see Official Federal Immigration Officers, you may call Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP) at (510) 241-4011.

More resources from the City of Oakland are available HERE.

To Request Know Your Rights Cards from my office, please click HERE.

Communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Know Your Rights

State agencies and trusted organizations have provided the following guidance:

• RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT — You do not have to answer questions about your status or birthplace.
• DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR – Unless they present an arrest warrant naming someone at the residence or a search warrant describing the area to be searched, and the warrant is signed by a judge.
• DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING – Never sign documents without consulting an attorney. It may affect your rights.
• DO NOT PROVIDE FALSE INFORMATION – Never falsify documents or misrepresent your citizenship status.
• SEEK LEGAL HELP – Contact an attorney or a trusted organization more assistance.

Know Your Immigration Rights and Protections Under the Law in California

• You have the right to apply for and secure housing without sharing your immigration status. California law prohibits housing providers from asking about your immigration status unless you are applying for affordable housing funded by the federal government.
  • Additionally, housing providers cannot harass or intimidate you by threatening or sharing information about your immigration status to ICE, law enforcement, or other government agencies.
• You have the right to access emergency medical care. Federal laws and regulations ensure the rights of all people to access emergency medical care, including undocumented immigrants.
• You have the right to an attorney. If you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed attorney. If you are detained by ICE and/or are facing immigration proceedings, you have the right to seek legal assistance through an attorney.
• State and local law enforcement cannot ask for your immigration status. California law expressly prohibits law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes.
• State and local law enforcement cannot share your personal information. This includes sharing your home or work address for immigration purposes, unless that information is available to the public or unless that information involves previous criminal arrest, convictions or similar criminal history.

If you believe your civil rights have been violated, please report it to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report.

If you believe you were subject to discrimination, harassment or retaliation, report it to the California Department of Civil Rights at calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess.

For more information on your legal rights and protections as a California resident, visit the California DOJ’s Immigration Resources Page here, or call (800) 952-5225.

Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP) is a collaborative program dedicated to protecting and empowering undocumented communities across Alameda County. They provide rapid response, legal services, and community education to ensure that undocumented individuals and their families have access to justice, dignity, and the resources they need to thrive.

If you are in Alameda County and witness Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in action, suspect ICE activity in progress, or if you or someone you know is detained by ICE, please contact the Hotline at (510) 241-4011 during the operating hours of 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Priority will be given to calls related to ICE arrests.

Additional Local, Regional, State and National Immigration Resources can be found on my website.

Yours in Service,

Mia Bonta
Assemblymember, 18th District