How to Actually Help Your Undocumented Neighbors

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In fielding calls during a recent upsurge by ICE in Minneapolis, a few common themes have arisen that both frustrate and educate. As such, here's a list of what I, as an immigration attorney, believe could have prevented the arrest or made a difference in defending against the removal proceedings. I welcome additional suggestions. PS I’ve actually stopped saying "undocumented," because lots of people in legitimate immigration processes are being unjustly arrested by ICE, as well as U.S. citizens. These are some practical actions that can make a difference in a non-citizen's life:

  1. Offer to scan whatever immigration papers they might have, and store those PDFs on the cloud or with several trusted U.S. citizens who are electronically adept. 
  2. Make multiple paper copies of all those documents and store with several trusted U.S. citizens who are electronically adept.
  3. Print out 10 hard copies of letter at the end of this post, requesting bond. Help them fill out each individually by hand and keep with them. Keep a couple for yourself or another trusted USC.
  4. Ask them if they have an immigration lawyer. If yes, get their FULL name and contact info. Make them memorize their lawyer’s full name and contact info.
  5. If they don’t, please convince them--NOW--that whatever they’ve been told in the internet will not help them without an immigration lawyer. Guarantee they’ll be deported without one, and help them make an appointment with one today. Minnesota has a strong ethical corps of immigration lawyers, many of whom will chat for a few minutes for free (at least) to figure out the next course of action. 
  6. Help gather fees for a full immigration lawyer consultation BEFORE any ICE arrest. I’m talking to tons of people I could’ve helped before they got arrested.
  7. Tell them that ICE arrest is often too late or too expensive to hire a lawyer. I help noncitizens prevent removal, and don’t do immigration court work. But this weekend a solo practitioner colleague charged $10,000 for an emergency release in federal court. My consult fee is $420. Others may be less. So what’s cheaper???
  8. Know that many undocumenteds have applications pending filed by fly-by-night “notarios,” who filed boiler plate applications and told them all sorts of lies just to qualify for a work permit (see #9). This is a large portion of those being arrested lately by ICE.  Ask them about this and get them to a real lawyer NOW.
  9. Also know, “work permits” are not legal status like many have been told, nor does being crime-free equal legal status or prevent many removals. 
  10. Bring them bulk food items and deliver subtlely. 
  11. Communicate IN PERSON, or by third parties.


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