What to Do If ICE Comes to Your Home in North Carolina

No. Under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, you are not required to open your door to ICE agents unless they have a valid judicial warrant signed by a federal judge. An ICE administrative warrant (Form I-200 or I-205) does NOT give agents the right to enter your home without your consent. You can ask them to slide the warrant under the door so you can verify it.

A judicial warrant is signed by a federal judge or magistrate and authorizes ICE to enter your home even without your consent. It will say "United States District Court" at the top. An ICE administrative warrant (Form I-200 or I-205) is signed by an ICE supervisor, NOT a judge. It does not authorize forced entry into your home. Most ICE operations use administrative warrants, which means you have the right to keep your door closed.

Yes. ICE agents can approach and arrest individuals in public places such as sidewalks, parking lots, workplaces, and courthouses without a warrant. The constitutional protections against warrantless entry apply specifically to your home. If you are stopped outside, you still have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.

You have the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the country. You can say: "I am exercising my right to remain silent. I want to speak to my attorney." Anything you say can be used against you in immigration proceedings.

The Know Your Rights Red Card is a bilingual card you can show through a window or slide under a door to ICE agents. It states that you are exercising your constitutional right not to open the door, not to speak without an attorney, and not to sign any documents. Vasquez Law Firm provides free Red Cards and Black Cards to anyone who needs them. Visit our Know Your Rights page or call 1-844-967-3536.

Yes. Having a pending application with USCIS (such as an I-130, I-485, or asylum case) does not prevent ICE from attempting to locate and arrest you. However, your pending case may affect your options for relief in immigration court. Contact an immigration attorney immediately if ICE visits your home while you have a pending case.

Call an immigration attorney immediately at 1-844-967-3536. Try to find out which ICE facility your family member was taken to. In North Carolina, ICE detainees are typically held at the Alamance County Detention Center or the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. Your attorney can file for a bond hearing before an immigration judge, which may allow your family member to be released while their case proceeds.

ICE has a general policy (updated in 2021) to avoid enforcement actions inside courthouses except in limited circumstances involving national security or public safety threats. However, ICE agents have been observed near NC courthouses. If you have a court appearance unrelated to immigration, consult an attorney about whether it is safe to attend.