ORLANDO: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

ICE and other immigration officers are active in Florida, including the Orlando area. Agents may arrive at your home, workplace, school, or other locations. This guide will help you prepare for what to do and how to keep our community safe in their presence.

Important! This guide is general information. It is not legal advice. It is not tailored to your situation. Talk to an immigration lawyer for advice in your case. 


You have constitutional rights:

• DO NOT HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.

• DO NOT NEED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.

• YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.

• If you are outside of your home, ASK THE AGENT IF YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE and if they say yes, leave calmly.


If ICE shows up to your home…

  • DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR.

    • YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO OPEN YOUR DOOR. 

      • If you choose to open the door and let them inside, that is considered “consent” in the eyes of the law.

    • REMAIN CALM.

      • Anything you do or say can be used against you in a court of law.

      • Do not answer any questions without an attorney present.

    • ASK TO SEE A JUDICIAL WARRANT.

      • The warrant must be signed by a judge, giving the officer permission to enter your home. You are only required to open the door if the warrant has your correct information, a valid date, and is signed by a judge. An administrative warrant is not the same as a judicial warrant.

    • DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING.

      • Unless reviewed by a lawyer, do not sign any documents. 

If ICE shows up to your workplace…

  • EMPLOYER ICE POLICY

    • Ensure your employer has a plan in place to respond to ICE arriving at a place of work. Remember, the same rules of a judicial warrant versus an administrative warrant at home apply to your place of work, too.

    • Are you an employer? Click here to learn more.

  • STAY CALM AND DON’T RUN AWAY.

    • If ICE suspects you have anything to hide, they may question you or further attempt to locate you.

    • If they approach you, ask: “Am I free to go?”

  • ASK TO SPEAK WITH A LAWYER.

    • You are entitled to speak with legal representation. Say out loud: “I would like to speak to a lawyer.”


If you are pulled over in a traffic stop…

  • COOPERATE.

    • Slow down and pull over your vehicle. Lower your window and place your hands in a visible location. 

    • If requested, show your license, registration, and proof of car insurance. 

  • DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

    • If this is a traffic stop, you are not required to answer questions about your immigration status.

    • If an officer asks to search your vehicle, you have the right to refuse. They would need a warrant to search your vehicle.

    • Remember, you have the right to remain silent.

  • BORDER PATROL IS DIFFERENT.

    • Border Patrol Agents can pull you over on reasonable suspicion of your immigration status or a crime. They may ask questions about your immigration status.

    • They can detain you based on your immigration status, but they cannot force you to speak with them or sign anything.

    • Border Patrol checkpoints may exist within 100 miles of any U.S. border, including airports. Note that Florida shores are part of the U.S. border, and the Border Patrol can act anywhere in the state.

  • BE AWARE

    • In many cases, individuals are pulled over for a minor traffic violation and then arrested when they cannot produce a valid form of identification. Once at the jail, a background check is conducted, which may result in an ICE hold, meaning that once local criminal charges are dropped or processed, ICE will transport you to an immigration detention facility. 

    • If possible, keep some form of identification on you at all times. 


In a School…

Due to changes by the Trump Administration, schools are NOT recognized as sensitive or protected areas. If you are a teacher, parent, or student with questions about what ICE and immigration enforcement mean for your school, here are things to know.

  • DEVELOP A PREPAREDNESS PLAN

    • Teachers and Administrators can create a protocol and procedure for what to do if ICE arrives on your campus.

      • Ensure the plan includes parental notification. 

      • Outline a designated person to monitor school entrances during school hours. Select an observer to document ICE’s activity around your campus.

      • Identify a person to review warrants presented by ICE.

        • Ensure only judicial warrants are accepted. 

      • Ensure students and parents know their rights. 

  • FAMILIES AND STUDENTS PREPARE TOO

    • Parents and Caregivers along with students, can play an active role in preparedness, too. 

      • Ensure your Emergency Contact information is up to date.

      • Ask your child to or plan with your parents to communicate timely updates if ICE has arrived on campus.

    • Create a family preparedness plan.

      • Gather all legal documents in one place (ex. birth certificates, passports, school records, medical records, immigration history)

      • Ensure familiarity with drop-off and pick-up policies and assign designated point people for these roles.

  • OCPS Information

    • For students, parents, and educators in Orlando, please visit here to learn more about the district’s immigration FAQ.


In a University…

As of 2025, Public Higher Education institutions are no longer considered protected or sensitive areas due to policy changes from the Trump Administration. Here are resources to help navigate if ICE appears on your college campus.

  • According to American Federation of Teachers

    • “Federal immigration enforcement officers can enter public areas without a warrant, just like any member of the public. However, officers cannot access nonpublic areas of campus without permission from an authorized campus official. Institutional employees are not required to grant access, provide documents or assist federal immigration officers in entering nonpublic areas of the campus. Federal immigration enforcement agents may not enter areas that are private without a legally sufficient judicial warrant.”

  • Information for International Students

    • UCF

      • For UCF students, UCF Global posts up-to-date guidance and information for International Students here.

    • Valencia College

    • Rollins College

      • Immigration updates for students and guidance on forms, Visas, and your immigration status can be found here.


In a Hospital…

  • REFUSE TO ANSWER.

    • Florida Law requires most healthcare providers to ask about your immigration status, but you are not required to respond. 

    • Hospitals and ERs should not report your personal information to immigration authorities

    • Unless you apply for Medicaid, Emergency Medicaid, or other health coverage for yourself, you do not need to share any information related to your immigration status.

  • Health Care Providers and Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights, Know Your Patients’ Rights: Click Here


Legal Resources

There are legal resources available if you or a loved one is dealing with an ongoing immigration issue. Demand is high, and there is no guarantee of legal assistance or counsel, but the following list includes organizations you can contact:

FLORIDA IMMIGRANT COALITION
Call the FLIC Hotline: 1-888-600-5762

HOPE Community Center 

  • Citizenship Classes

  • Legal Support for:

    • Legal Permanent Residency Renewals and Replacements

    • U visa – Victims of Crimes

    • T visa – Victims of Human Trafficking

    • VAWA – Victims of Domestic Violence

    • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

    • Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Umbrella Brigade 

  • Grocery Support

    • Volunteers can come to your home and deliver groceries if you are concerned about encountering ICE in public places.

Farmworkers Association of Florida

Mi Familia Vota

Hispanic Federation

If you want to print Red Cards created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) to help individuals assert their constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement or ICE agents, you can print or request them here.


If you think someone you know has been detained…