What if ICE Comes To Our Church?
Migrant Support Network
If ICE Comes to Our Church
The following information will orient you to basic immigration knowledge and provide you with the basic information to begin developing a campus specific plan, including training and logistics, to prepare for the eventuality that ICE will come to your campus for an immigration enforcement activity.
- Watch Know Your Rights (for individuals) video English or in Spanish from Apoyantes
- Have a Red Card ready
- Also available in Spanish from Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- Greet the agent. If they request entrance, ask to see the warrant.
- If you are not an authorized person (with advanced training) say -” I don’t have authority to address this. I need to contact the authorized person. (for example – Clergy, JR or SR warden) Please wait here.”
- Provide additional training for authorized people, who will be present at worship service times, regular office hour times, and non-worship activities.
What if ICE Comes To Our Church…
With a Judicial Warrent
Verify the warrant specifies your location and contact legal counsel immediately. Do not invite agents into private areas. Sample Judicial Warrant
With an Administrative Warrant
Agents may enter public spaces (e.g., lobbies) but cannot access private areas without consent. Sample Administrative Warrant
No Warrent
Do not give consent for the agent to enter. You may hand them the red card.
Watch Know Your Rights Video
Watch The Episcopal Church immigration attorney Kent Ankers beginning at 28:00 through 46:00.
Know Your Rights Video
Video password: fImmigration01282025
Your Constitutional Rights
- DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.
- DO NOT 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.
Resources
- EDNY Parish Guidance Resources
- Know Your Rights 2024
- Vestry Training: Church Know Your Rights
- Church of the Incarnation: Law Enforcement Policy
The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation:
Law Enforcement Policy
Approved By Vestry June 24, 2025
The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation does not believe our campus is an appropriate venue for law enforcement action other than rare emergency and safety situations at our specific request. We believe such action impedes our freedom of religious exercise, which is protected by the First Amendment of this nation’s constitution.
Our religious and charitable activities are open to all people. We cannot confirm whether any individual is present on our campus at a given time. We do not ask or record the immigration status of any participant in our programs.
We do not invite law enforcement personnel to engage in any enforcement activities on our campus without our request. If enforcement personnel do engage in activity on our campus, we may exercise our right to record their actions and may seek legal redress for any wrong or injury sustained.
