Know Your Rights - Resources on Immigration Enforcement for Nonprofit Employers
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to conduct active operations in many locations, including here in Maine.
For Employers
Prepare
- Review What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace, and Know Your Rights Checklists: Guidance for Health Care, Shelters, Clergy, Education
- Designate one point of contact to interact with ICE officers.
- Ensure all Form I-9s are complete, accurate, and securely stored. (See The Importance of I-9 Compliance and Why Businesses Need to be Proactive.)
- Clearly mark public vs. private (non-public) areas of your workplace. (Learn more about this distinction.)
- Train front-line staff to stay calm and immediately refer agents to management (See infographic at right from How Maine businesses are preparing for ICE enforcement actions, Portland Press Herald.)
- Keep contact information for legal counsel readily available.
- Ensure your organization is up to date on immigration and workforce compliance (Recorded Webinars: Employers Navigating Immigration and Workforce Compliance)
Stay Safe
Democracy Security Project offers this pocket guide of de-escalation strategies. Organizations seeking assistance with safety and response planning can reach out to Democracy Security Project directly at 1-234-DSP-HELP or help@democracysecurityproject.org.
Empower + Support Your Employees
Print and distribute "Red Cards" which help people understand their rights (available in multiple languages).
Even if you do not realize it, you may have employees who have fears for themselves and their families, or who are concerned about clients, neighbors, and friends. Help connect employees to support through your EAP and community resources, such as LighthouseME, which recently launched as statewide platform where Mainers can find trusted information, resources and data, including.
- "Know Your Rights" information (multilingual)
- Information on understanding immigration status and how Federal changes may impact status, especially asylum seekers, and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Resources for safety planning, financial planning, and mental health support
- Guidance on documenting public officials, including immigration and law enforcement officers.
- Resources for supporting detainees, including how to track a detained person and ways to find legal representation
How to Help
- Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project of Maine (ILAP) provides information on how to request legal help for a person detained by immigration officials. Sign up for their e-news and newsletter for updates and calls to action.
- Support organizations providing resources for detainees and their families such as commissary and transportation funding, financial support for bail bonds and legal fees, support for families, and more.
- Maine Solidarity Fund
- Community Relief Fund - Central, Midcoast and Northern Maine, Penobscot Territory, Wabanaki Dawnland
- L/A Rapid Response Fund
- Project Relief ME
- Mainers for Humane Immigration
- Project Home Emergency Housing Fund
- Foundation for Portland Public Schools Families in Crisis Fund
This blog post is provided for informational purposes and is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, legal advice. For legal support and questions related to immigration, use the National Immigration Legal Services Directory.