Safety measures and other information for asylum seekers

The U.S. government is detaining many immigrants across the country, including people with pending applications and valid work permits. The following list provides information that may be helpful for asylum seekers. We are proud to support you.

1. When you leave home, carry a United States ID if you have one.

If you have a U.S. identification card such as a driver’s license or state ID, carry it with you when you leave home. You can choose to show your ID if you are stopped outside of your home by the police or immigration officials. 

You can also choose to carry one of the documents below to prove your immigration status.

• Permanent resident card (green card)

• Work permit

• Copy of Notice to Appear

• Copy of Hearing Notice

• Copy of Form I-94 (see examples here, here, and here)

• Copy of a visa you received to come to the United States

2. Carry documents that prove you have been in the U.S. for at least 2 years.

The government is trying to place more people into a faster deportation process called “expedited removal." The government is now allowed to detain people and put them in this faster deportation process if they have been in the U.S. for less than 2 years, AND they entered the U.S. without a valid visa.  

You may want to carry documents to show that you have been in the U.S. for at least 2 years. The documents should show your name and U.S. address, and have dates. A single document can sometimes show a long period of time, for example a cell phone bill that shows multiple months.  

Here are some examples:

• Driver’s license with issue date more than 2 years ago

• Internet, phone, electricity, or other bills

• Medical or school records

• Bank or credit card statements

• Lease agreements or property deeds

• Car, home, or health insurance

• Other mail or documents

3. Memorize at least one phone number. Save your documents in a safe place.

Memorize the phone number of at least one person you trust. That way, you can still call them even if you lose access to your phone. If you are detained, your phone will be taken away. If you have a lawyer, memorize their number too.

Make sure that your important documents and information are stored in a safe place. For example, this could include your passport, immigration documents, financial information, medical information, account logins, and important phone numbers. Tell someone else that you trust where they can find this information in an emergency. Another organization has created a sample emergency plan that you can fill out, if that is helpful.

4. Make plans for your children.

If you have minor children, make a plan for their care in case of an emergency. Talk to a trusted person about helping in case of an emergency, for example help picking children up from school or taking children to doctors’ appointments. 

You can also talk to a lawyer about giving legal authority to the trusted person to take care of your children in case you are detained. You can create a legal document in advance. Each state has different rules, but options can include a power of attorney or a caregiver’s authorization affidavit. You can look for a lawyer here. 

You can also find a family preparedness guide here, or see this more in-depth deportation preparation manual.

5. Be careful when driving and traveling.

Carry your U.S. driver’s license and get car insurance as required by law in all states. Drive carefully and obey the traffic laws. Be aware that when you travel within the United States, you may encounter immigration officials or immigration checkpoints. In general, travel by airplane or near the borders with Mexico or Canada may be higher-risk.

You can read this guide or this guide from other organizations to learn about groups that may be at a higher risk of detention, and about safety tips for traveling by plane.

6. Be aware of privacy concerns on social media.

If you no longer use a social media account, consider deleting it. If you decide to delete your social media account and it has evidence about your asylum case or other information that is important to you, take screenshots or print copies before deleting.

Many companies and the government have access to data shared by people online, including in social media platforms. For example, the government has said that information shared on social media can impact a person’s immigration status. Social media companies also sell users’ personal data to other companies.

7. If you get arrested by immigration officials and are afraid to return to your country of origin, state that clearly.

If you are arrested by immigration officials and you are afraid of returning to your country of origin, try to say that you are afraid to return every chance you have. If you have already applied for asylum, say that you have an asylum application pending. 

Do not sign any documents you cannot read or understand on your own. Ask to speak to a lawyer, then call your lawyer if you have one, or call a loved one who can help. Find legal help here. Once in detention, your case can move quickly. Learn more about detention.

8. If you have an immigration court case or ICE check-ins, learn how to prepare.

The government has been detaining more people during ICE check-ins. Learn how to prepare. 

If you have an immigration court case, you should check your case status frequently. Immigration courts are changing the date and location of many hearings very suddenly. If you miss your hearing, you will likely receive a deportation order. To check your case status, you can call the court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or go to this website.

If you have a case in immigration court, your case is still active until the judge makes a decision. However, having an open asylum case does not necessarily prevent someone from being detained. It can be helpful to talk to a lawyer about preparing legal documents in case of detention, such as a petition to ask for release. You can look for a lawyer here.

9. Stay up to date about changing immigration laws.

Immigration laws are rapidly changing, and these changes could impact your case. Read how laws are changing on this page. ASAP updates this page often in response to new changes.

10. Sign up for ASAP membership to get free legal updates by text or email.

Every month, the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) provides all members with free legal updates by email or text message – including information about changing laws. ASAP membership is completely free, and is designed for asylum seekers in the United States.