Know Your Rights Leaflets for Students Amid ICE Threats in 2025

“Know your rights” leaflets are being handed out to students in schools and on college campuses across the United States 🇺🇸 as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity rises and communities brace for possible raids. The leaflets explain core rights during contact with immigration officers—such as the right to remain silent, the right to refuse consent to a search, and the right to ask for a lawyer—and give step-by-step advice for encounters at home, on the way to school, and on school grounds.

Educators’ unions, school districts, and immigrant advocacy groups say the effort aims to protect access to education and reduce fear for students and families, regardless of immigration status.

What the leaflets emphasize

According to organizers, the leaflets stress that students don’t have to answer questions about where they were born, their immigration status, or their parents’ status. They explain that people can calmly state, “I choose to remain silent,” and request an attorney before speaking. The materials also warn against giving false information, which can make matters worse.

Leaflet guidance commonly includes:

• You have the right to remain silent. You don’t need to answer questions about immigration or where you were born.
• Do not consent to a search or entry without a judicial warrant. Ask to see a warrant signed by a judge. An administrative ICE form is not the same as a judicial warrant.
• Ask for a lawyer. You can say, “I want to speak to an attorney.”
• Stay calm and polite. Do not run, resist, or give false documents.
• At home: Keep the door closed. Ask to see any warrant through a window or held up to a camera. Don’t open the door unless ICE shows a valid judicial warrant with your name and address.
• At school: Staff may ask for a warrant before allowing officers into private areas like classrooms or dorms.

Many schools and community groups are also distributing small “red cards” that summarize rights in plain language and in multiple languages. Some organizations are providing trainings, workshops, and emergency planning sessions for families.

Legal and policy background

The legal backdrop is changing. Advocacy groups report that since January 2025, the federal government revoked the prior “sensitive locations” guidance from the Obama era, which had discouraged enforcement in places like schools. While officers still generally need a judicial warrant or permission to enter private areas, the policy change raises concerns about enforcement around campuses, bus stops, and public paths to school.

In response, some districts are updating protocols for front desks, security teams, and teachers so they know what to do if ICE shows up without the right paperwork.

The point of these leaflets is not to block lawful enforcement, but to make sure students and families know their rights and avoid panic.

Examples of local responses:
– Chicago administrators have increased leaflet distribution and discussed remote learning options for students who feel unsafe leaving home.
– University of California campuses continue to post student privacy notices and hand out materials reflecting state protections and campus policy.

School responses and practical steps for staff

To reduce disruption and protect students, districts and unions are offering staff brief guides on handling requests from enforcement officers. Typical recommended steps include:

1. Direct officers to the main office.
2. Ask for identification and the judicial warrant if entry to private areas is requested.
3. Contact the district’s legal office before allowing access beyond public spaces.
4. Avoid sharing student records without proper legal process.

Counselors and teachers report behavioral impacts: some teens skip class after seeing ICE news on social media, and attendance dips follow reports of early-morning home visits.

Real-world scenarios covered in the leaflets

Leaflets and trainings often include clear, practical instructions for likely encounters:

• If agents knock at dawn:
  • Keep the door closed.
  • Ask for a warrant and check if it is signed by a judge and lists the correct address.
  • Don’t open the door unless a valid judicial warrant with your name and address is shown.
• If agents are at school:
  • Staff can keep them in public areas unless a valid judicial warrant is presented.
  • Students and staff may ask officers whether they are free to leave; if told yes, they may walk away calmly.
• If a student is stopped on the sidewalk:
  • Ask, “Am I free to leave?” If the answer is yes, walk away calmly.
  • If the officer says no, remain silent and request a lawyer.

Leaflets often include images showing where a judge’s signature and a clear address appear on a warrant to help families distinguish judicial warrants from administrative ICE forms.

For official background on agency roles and procedures, readers can review resources on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website.

Distribution, translations, and outreach

The rollout is not uniform:

• Some districts print leaflets for every student.
• Others post materials online and ask PTA leaders to share.
• University campuses send student-wide emails and set up “Know Your Rights” tables at orientation.

National groups such as the National Education Association (NEA), the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), the Immigrant Defense Project, and the Asian Law Caucus have released updated materials and host webinars for parents and older students.

VisaVerge.com reports a surge in demand for clear, simple rights card templates since winter, with schools seeking versions in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, and more. Organizers say translation matters because teenagers often need to pass information to parents or grandparents at home.

Legal help, warnings, and community supports

Leaflets and school programs typically include:

• Lists of local legal aid groups and hotlines.
• Advice not to give false information or carry fake IDs.
• Warnings not to sign documents they don’t understand.
• Evening sessions where lawyers explain rights in plain language and answer questions about school records, attendance, and privacy.

Advocates emphasize the leaflets do not encourage breaking the law. Instead, they explain how to use rights that apply to everyone and how to avoid actions that can harm a case.

When students and families feel prepared, attendance and focus improve.

Key takeaway

As enforcement debates continue in Washington under President Biden, local schools say they will keep distributing these leaflets to help students feel safe enough to learn. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, clear, consistent messaging is the most effective tool schools have right now to protect attendance and reduce fear while staying within the law.