In recent weeks, residents of Chicago and its suburbs have reported arrests and shared videos of ICE detaining people, which have spread quickly and raised alarm in immigrant neighborhoods. As the threat of Donald Trump sending in the National Guard hangs in the air, immigration enforcement is escalating.
In response, South Side Weekly created this guide with input from attorneys and community organizations to explain key protections under the law, how families can prepare, what to expect in the first hour after being detained by ICE, and where to find community and legal support. This guide does not constitute legal advice.
Prepare in advance by organizing important paperwork and setting up a child care plan
Laura Cholula Chang, a senior know your rights attorney at the National Immigration Justice Center (NIJC), said families worried about detention or deportation should prepare a safety plan and keep key documents in a secure, accessible place.
“Make sure a trusted emergency contact knows where these documents are stored and has access to them,” she advised. These may include passports, birth and marriage certificates, immigration filings, tax returns, leases, or school and medical records. It’s best to have both physical and digital copies of each document.
Chang also advised parents and caregivers to consider planning for childcare in case they are detained. “Parents can create a legal guardianship, which allows a designated adult to make decisions about a child’s education, healthcare, and daily needs,” she said. Families may also set up a power of attorney to allow a trusted person to handle certain financial or property matters. For broader authority, guardianships are an option, but Cholula Chang said they can be harder to end, so it’s best to seek legal advice before moving forward.
Knowing and exercising your rights
Federal law provides certain protections during encounters with immigration agents and other law enforcement officers. These rights apply to everyone, regardless of immigration status, such as the right to remain silent and not answer questions about where you were born or your immigration status.
ICE cannot enter a home without a valid warrant signed by a judge, and individuals have the right to examine that warrant to confirm it includes their name, address, and a judge’s signature. The right to legal counsel also applies. Clearly stating, “I want to speak to an attorney,” is a critical protection. Individuals may refuse searches and are advised not to sign any documents without first receiving legal advice.
Don’t sign anything
According to Diana Rashid, a managing attorney with the NIJC Detention Project, ICE officials sometimes ask people to sign voluntary departure papers, which state that they will leave the U.S. on their own rather than face deportation.
“But what many don’t realize is that signing this form means giving up the right to fight their case,” Rashid said. As a result, some detainees unknowingly waive their right to a hearing or agree to deportation. Don’t sign anything.
Keeping children safe
For parents and caregivers, the risks of detention extend beyond their own case. A sudden arrest can leave children vulnerable. Parents are encouraged to prepare a safety plan in case of detention to ensure their children are protected. Cholula Chang advises parents to have their children memorize the name and phone number of a trusted emergency contact, family member or guardian and be reassured that they will be cared for if the parent is taken into custody.
Completing a Short-Term Guardian form in advance allows a trusted adult to legally care for the children. If it has not been completed beforehand, Cholula Chang said it can still be arranged from detention. If the chosen guardian lives far away, the plan should also include a nearby trusted person such as a neighbor or family friend who can stay with the children until the designated guardian arrives.
Resources are available to support families in this planning. The Family Preparedness Package by Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) includes Illinois-specific forms, and the NIJC offers guidance on guardianships and powers of attorney for families in Illinois and Indiana.
ICE interaction strategy: first hour with ICE
(Advice adapted from immigration attorney Pedro Chavez, via TikTok)
Immigration attorney Pedro Chavez explained that ICE agents are trained to control and extend conversations until they get someone to admit they are undocumented. He warned that agents often work in pairs and may bully or pressure you into talking.
He advised that the most important thing to remember: do not engage in conversation. Instead, commit to calmly repeating the same phrase: “I don’t have to talk to you; can I leave?” Chavez stressed that once ICE starts questioning, people should assume they could be processed for up to an hour (though usually less) and advised to stay consistent and not answer any questions.
Chavez suggested repeating the phrase until ICE either allows the individual to leave or ends the questioning. The more a person speaks, the greater the risk that agents will use those words against them.
Encounters can feel long, frustrating, and intimidating, but mental preparation and remaining silent while asserting rights are among the strongest protections available, he said.
How to get a hold of someone who was detained
NIJC advises that if you know someone is detained by ICE, you should start by getting their nine-digit A-Number (A#) from ICE or past immigration documents. With it, you can find them through ICE’s detainee locator or by calling the detention facility, to arrange visits and phone calls.
Loved ones can report the arrest to Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)’s Family Support Hotline at 1-855-435-7693, gather any immigration or criminal documents, and check court dates using the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) portal or 1-800-898-7180.
It’s also important to seek legal help quickly from groups like NIJC, Midwest Immigration Defenders Alliance (MIDA), Immigration Advocates Network, or other recognized organizations and attorney directories.
Where do people go after ICE arrests them?
After an ICE arrest in the Chicago area, people are first taken to a processing facility in Broadview, a suburb a few miles west of the city, which functions as a short-term intake site rather than a detention facility. From there, many are transferred to county jails or detention centers under ICE contracts, most often in Wisconsin, Indiana, or Kentucky, though some end up as far away as Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana.
These transfers are unpredictable and leave families struggling to find their loved ones. Organizers told the Weekly that many of the calls they receive come from relatives who don’t know where someone has been taken or what to do next.
Bail and legal costs
Xanat Sobrevilla, an organizer with OCAD, urges families to have an attorney handle bond requests rather than trying to do it themselves, since a lawyer can present the case strategically and reduce risks. Additionally, not everyone is eligible: people with prior removal orders, recent border crossings, or certain criminal convictions—especially those classified as “aggravated felonies”—are subject to mandatory detention and cannot be granted bond.
Local legal aid groups like NIJC and ICIRR provide free or low-cost legal help, bond support, referrals, and assistance for people in ICE custody. The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund (MIBF), based in Chicago, also posts immigration bonds for detained individuals in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Kentucky, with families able to apply online.
Safely recording and supporting during an ICE encounter
In Illinois, community members have the legal right to film or photograph law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, in public spaces or on their own private property, Chang explained. This right applies to all law enforcement and cannot be restricted unless an officer presents a judicial warrant to search or seize a device. Even if instructed to stop, you can continue recording.
“Acting collectively through trained rapid response networks strengthens community safety, prevents misinformation, and fosters solidarity,” Cholula Chang said.
To document safely, Cholula Chang advises people recording should begin as soon as possible and continue until the encounter ends. Horizontal (also known as “landscape”) video is recommended, with the device kept visible while the videographer narrates details such as time, location, and nearby streets. The focus should remain on agents’ actions, including badge numbers, license plates, and vehicle identifiers. Important instructions or statements should be repeated aloud to ensure clarity in the recording. Chang said at least an arm’s length distance must be maintained, and officers’ directions to step back should be followed while calmly affirming the right to film.
Additionally, when supporting those affected, photos or videos should not be shared publicly without permission from individuals or their families, as this may put them at risk, Cholula Chang said. Instead, evidence should be securely submitted to trusted organizations such as ICIRR or an ICIRR-affiliated rapid response team through the Family Support Hotline at 1-855-435-7693.
Once shared, files should be deleted from personal devices or unsecured platforms to protect privacy and security.
Common mistakes that can harm a case
Cholula Chang said that many of the mistakes that harm immigration cases come from misinformation or lack of preparation. Relying on notary publics (notarios) or unqualified advisors, failing to make a safety plan, or giving information to ICE instead of staying silent can all create serious problems.
Missing court dates, ignoring voluntary departure orders, or presenting false documents can also lead to removal and long-term bars on relief. To protect a case, she said it’s essential to know your rights, stay prepared, and get help from qualified legal professionals.
Recap:
- Keep documents safe: Store passports, birth and marriage certificates, immigration filings, tax returns, leases, and school or medical records in a secure place. Make sure a trusted contact knows how to access them.
- Plan for children: Prepare a childcare plan, complete a Short-Term Guardian Form if possible, and ensure children know the name and phone number of a trusted adult.
- Know your legal rights: The Constitution ensures everyone, regardless of immigration status, the right to remain silent, refuse searches, and request an attorney. ICE cannot enter anyone’s home without a warrant signed by a judge.
- Do not sign papers: Voluntary departure and other documents should never be signed without legal advice.
- Stay calm with ICE and other law enforcement: Encounters may feel intimidating, but calmly repeating rights and avoiding unnecessary conversation offers strong protection.
- Locate detained loved ones: Use ICE’s detainee locator, call detention facilities directly, or report arrests to ICIRR’s Family Support Hotline at 1-855-435-7693.
- Seek legal and bond support: Assistance is available through NIJC, MIDA, and MIBF.
- Document safely: In Illinois, it is legal to film or photograph ICE and other law enforcement in public or on private property. Focus on details such as the location, time, and what people are saying without interfering.
- Avoid common mistakes: Relying on unqualified advisors, missing hearings, or presenting false information can severely harm a case. Preparation and legal guidance are critical.
Resources:
ICIRR Family Support Hotline
Multilingual assistance, rapid-response referrals.
Phone: 1-855-435-7693
Website: icirr.org
EOIR Automated Case Information
Check immigration court dates using A-Number or by phone.
Phone: 1-800-898-7180
Website: EOIR Portal
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
Free/low-cost representation, legal clinics, guardianship and power of attorney guidance.
Phone: (773) 672-6599 (Tuesdays 11 a.m.–2 p.m.)
Website: immigrantjustice.org
Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD)
Family Preparedness Package (Illinois-specific forms).
Website: organizedcommunities.org
Immigration Advocates Network
National legal service directory.
Website: immigrationadvocates.org
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) – Lawyer Directory
Find private immigration attorneys nationwide.
Website: aila.org
Midwest Immigration Bond Fund (MIBF)
Community bond fund for immigrants detained in IL, IN, WI, KY. Apply online, typical response in 2–3 days. Based in Chicago.
Website: mibfc.org
Pedro Chavez, Immigration Attorney
Know Your Rights content, including strategies for encounters with ICE.
Website: pedrochavezimmigration.com
Alma Campos is the Weekly’s immigration reporter and project editor.