Avoid Getting Caught: How Do Illegal Immigrants Get Caught
If you’re an illegal immigrant, the odds are stacked against you. It doesn’t matter if you fled from war, poverty, or crime, you’re still treated as a threat by the government. This harsh reality gives illegal immigrants a whole new set of worries in what’s supposed to be the land of the free.
So, how do illegal immigrants get caught? If you or someone you love is an illegal immigrant, knowing the answer is crucial. It will help you avoid getting sent back to what you escaped from and leave you better prepared to thrive in America.
Here are a few tips.
Be Careful When Driving
The majority of states do not allow illegal immigrants to drive. They cannot obtain a license, and cannot learn to drive until they’re legal citizens. However, this doesn’t apply to all states.
More and more states are allowing illegal immigrants to apply for driving permits. These include:
- New York
- Colorado
- California
- Delaware
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Nevada
- Utah
- Washington
- Vermont
New York is one of the latest to allow illegal immigrants to drive. They have put laws in place that protect the data of those who have signed up, and not disclose the records to ICE. So if you’re an illegal immigrant in the U.S., consider staying in New York.
There are also some questions surrounding car accidents and illegal immigrants. If you’re in a car accident as an illegal immigrant, you have just as much right to defense as a legal citizen. Further, you don’t have to disclose your legal status to the police at the scene of the accident.
If you’re an illegal immigrant and get in a car accident, contact an accident lawyer as fast as possible. They’ll best know how to protect you and your rights. Your illegal status has nothing to do with an accident, and you should not fear deportation after an accident.
Be Careful Near the Border
Borders, even once you’ve crossed, are bad places for illegal immigrants to be. This is known as the ‘100-mile Zone’. Basically, anywhere within 100-miles of a border should be avoided.
Border Patrol agents are known to board buses and trains in the region of borders and grill immigrants for their documentation. It’s best not to board any public transit near the border, as you run the risk of getting caught.
Of course, you do have the right to remain silent.
Border Patrol agents need reasonable suspicion to detain you. They can’t just do it for no reason. Don’t panic, and don’t reveal any information that could give them suspicion that you’re illegal.
A Deportation Warrant Is Not a Search Warrant
If ICE shows up at your door don’t let them in. Not without a search warrant, at least.
In July of 2019, Nancy Pelosi offered some advice on how to avoid deportation as an illegal immigrant. One point she wanted to hammer in was the difference between a deportation warrant and a search warrant.
Even if ICE has a deportation notice, they cannot enter your home without a search warrant. Always ask right away if they have a search warrant, and if they don’t, tell them to come back with one. They cannot enter your home to deport you, and you absolutely don’t have to step out to accommodate them.
If they don’t have a search warrant, this gives you some time to sort yourself out. Contact a lawyer, move to an unknown location, and figure out your next course of action.
Keep Track of Checkpoints
Illegal immigrants employ a lot of different tactics to avoid detection. One of the most important tactics is to know where immigration checkpoints are. These are mostly in areas near the border, but can also pop up far from it.
Avoid roads with checkpoints at all costs. There are online maps that show the location of these checkpoints.
Stay Connected
Illegal immigrants have to stick together if they want to avoid deportation.
Many illegal immigrants start support groups where they can come together and share their experiences. They may have text groups where they can chat, inform others of dangerous spots, and ask for help with issues.
There are a number of apps built with helping illegal immigrants in mind. Arrived is one of the most useful apps for illegal immigrants.
The app stays up to date with immigration news and deportation processes. Users can access English lessons and maps of government-free immigrant support organizations and sanctuary cities. The app also gives contact info for lawyers who can help in any situation.
Apps like this can make life as an illegal immigrant a lot easier, and help you blend in.
Move to a Sanctuary City
Sanctuary Cities offer laws that work to keep illegal immigrants safe. They do all they can to obstruct ICE and immigration enforcement and keep their citizens safe. The majority of these locations will not honor ICE detainers, meaning ICE can’t get their hands on illegal immigrants.
Sanctuary Cities exist across much of the U.S.
These include the state of California, many counties in Washington, the state of Oregon, and Colorado. If you’re an illegal immigrant looking for a safe place to live, it doesn’t get much safer than a Sanctuary City.
How Do Illegal Immigrants Get Caught, and How Do We Stop It?
There’s no one answer to the question, “How do illegal immigrants get caught?”.
Illegal immigrants are deported every day, and protecting them all is impossible. But by staying familiar with the law, keeping connected with other immigrants, and being careful, you can avoid deportation. It’s important to surround yourself with people who care for your safety, and who will keep you from getting into trouble.
It’s important to stand up for immigrants of all types and work towards a more accepting America. Nobody deserves to fear for their lives. Fight for illegal immigrant rights, and help end the fear of deportation.
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