New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently held a virtual webinar to inform migrants in her district about their rights when dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The "Know Your Rights With ICE" event, live-streamed on Facebook, offered guidance on handling ICE search requests at home or work, highlighted alleged ICE tactics to gain compliance, and discussed recent trends in ICE search procedures under the Trump administration.
Speakers emphasized that individuals, regardless of immigration status, possess rights during ICE encounters. Genia Blaser of the Immigrant Defense Project stressed that being on ICE's radar doesn't automatically equate to deportability and that individuals have legal avenues to pursue. The webinar, targeting migrants in Ocasio-Cortez's 14th District (parts of Queens and the Bronx), underscored the importance of understanding one's rights.
While Ocasio-Cortez didn't participate directly in the webinar, she shared related information on Instagram, including posters in English and Spanish outlining rights during ICE encounters. She urged followers to disseminate these resources, emphasizing the power of collective action and resistance against perceived abuses of power.
Webinar presenters explained the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures applies to everyone, including migrants. They highlighted the distinction between judicial and administrative warrants, noting that only the former authorizes searches. They also claimed that ICE frequently uses deceptive or intimidating tactics to gain consent to enter private spaces due to a lack of judicial warrants.
Furthermore, the webinar offered practical advice, such as documenting ICE interactions through recordings or notes, which could be helpful for legal purposes and advocacy groups. They also described recent trends in ICE operations, such as early morning home visits, street stops, and vehicle stops, often involving aggressive tactics. Fox News reached out to ICE for comment but didn't receive an immediate response.
