Your Rights

Basic Rights Everyone Has

These are rights given to anyone in the country regardless of immigration status.

  • You have the right to remain silent.
  • You do NOT have to open the door unless ICE shows a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
  • You have the right to speak to an attorney before signing anything.
  • You do not have to sign documents you cannot read or do not understand.

Teacher Rights

  • Schools are considered “sensitive locations” under past DHS guidelines, meaning ICE generally avoids enforcement actions at schools.
    (Note: This is policy guidance, not law.)
  • Teachers are not required to provide student information to ICE unless presented with a valid court order or subpoena.

(FERPA)

  • Teachers can refuse to allow ICE into a classroom without administrators present and without proper judicial documentation.

(NEA Guidelines)

  • Teachers may provide students with publicly available “Know Your Rights” information unless prohibited by district policy.

(NEA Guidelines)

  • Teachers cannot ask students about their immigration status, nor can schools require families to disclose it.
    Source: Plyler v. Doe (1982), U.S. Supreme Court

Ohio-Specific Laws

More centered on what ICE can do in Ohio