Emergency Hotlines
Emergency Hotlines
Section titled “Emergency Hotlines”Keep these numbers accessible. Share them with your community.
National Immigration Hotlines
Section titled “National Immigration Hotlines”United We Dream
Section titled “United We Dream”UWD Migra Watch Hotline
- Reporting ICE activity
- Connecting with local networks
National Immigration Law Center (NILC)
Section titled “National Immigration Law Center (NILC)”Resources and referrals
- Website: nilc.org
- Legal information and resources
Immigrant Defense Project
Section titled “Immigrant Defense Project”ICE Raid Hotline
- Reporting raids
- Legal guidance
- Community resources
Legal Support
Section titled “Legal Support”National Lawyers Guild (NLG)
Section titled “National Lawyers Guild (NLG)”- Know Your Rights information
- Legal observer training
- Website: nlg.org
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Section titled “American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)”- Find an immigration lawyer
- Website: aila.org
- Know Your Rights
- Legal resources
- Website: aclu.org
Regional Hotlines
Section titled “Regional Hotlines”Add your local hotlines here
Illinois
Section titled “Illinois”ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights)
- Website: icirr.org
- Know Your Rights: bit.ly/ICIRRCards
New York
Section titled “New York”New York Immigration Coalition
- Website: nyic.org
Make the Road New York
- Website: maketheroadny.org
California
Section titled “California”Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
- Website: chirla.org
RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)
- Website: raicestexas.org
Locating Detained Individuals
Section titled “Locating Detained Individuals”ICE Online Detainee Locator
Section titled “ICE Online Detainee Locator”- Website: locator.ice.gov
- Search by name or A-number
- May take 24-72 hours to update
Local Detention Facilities
Section titled “Local Detention Facilities”Add numbers for facilities in your area
Know your local:
- ICE field office
- Immigration court
- Detention centers
Consulates
Section titled “Consulates”If detained, you have the right to contact your consulate.
Finding Your Consulate
Section titled “Finding Your Consulate”Most countries have consulates in major US cities. Contact the embassy or consulate for your country of origin.
Note on Consulate Contact
Section titled “Note on Consulate Contact”- You have the RIGHT to contact your consulate
- You are NOT required to contact your consulate
- Some people prefer not to (depending on country situation)
- This is a personal choice
Mental Health & Support
Section titled “Mental Health & Support”After a Raid or Detention
Section titled “After a Raid or Detention”Community members may need:
- Mental health support
- Crisis counseling
- Community support
National Resources
Section titled “National Resources”SAMHSA National Helpline
- 1-800-662-4357
- Mental health and substance abuse
- Free, 24/7
Crisis Text Line
- Text HOME to 741741
- Free, 24/7 crisis support
Immigration-Specific Support
Section titled “Immigration-Specific Support”Many immigrant-serving organizations offer:
- Counseling
- Support groups
- Community care
- Cultural and language-appropriate services
Creating a Local Hotline Card
Section titled “Creating a Local Hotline Card”What to Include
Section titled “What to Include”EMERGENCY CONTACTS━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
ICE Activity Reporting:[Your local network number]
Immigration Legal Help:[Local legal aid number]
Detained Person Locator:locator.ice.gov
Family Support:[Local organization number]
Know Your Rights:[Local resource]
My Lawyer:_____________________
My Emergency Contact:_____________________Distribution
Section titled “Distribution”- Print wallet cards
- Share digitally
- Post in community spaces
- Include in KYR trainings
Using Hotlines Effectively
Section titled “Using Hotlines Effectively”When Calling to Report
Section titled “When Calling to Report”Be prepared to provide:
- Location (exact address if possible)
- Time of observation
- Description of vehicles/agents
- Activity observed
- Your contact info (if comfortable)
When Seeking Help
Section titled “When Seeking Help”Be prepared to provide:
- Nature of your situation
- What kind of help you need
- Your location
- Best way to reach you
Limitations
Section titled “Limitations”Hotlines can:
- Provide information
- Connect you with resources
- Document incidents
- Offer support
Hotlines generally cannot:
- Provide legal advice (unless staffed by lawyers)
- Intervene in active enforcement
- Guarantee outcomes
Building Local Resources
Section titled “Building Local Resources”Compile Local Numbers
Section titled “Compile Local Numbers”Research and collect:
- Local immigration legal aid
- Local immigrant rights organizations
- Local ICE field office
- Local detention facilities
- Local mental health resources
- Local community organizations
Keep Updated
Section titled “Keep Updated”Numbers change. Review and update:
- Every 6 months
- When you hear of changes
- Before major distributions
Share Widely
Section titled “Share Widely”- With network members
- At trainings
- In community spaces
- Through partner organizations
For Network Admins
Section titled “For Network Admins”Consider Creating
Section titled “Consider Creating”- A dedicated network hotline
- A reporting system
- A resource database
- Regular updates to the community
Staffing a Hotline
Section titled “Staffing a Hotline”If you create a network hotline:
- Who answers?
- What hours?
- What happens after hours?
- What training do they need?
- How do they connect callers to help?
Remember: Having the numbers is the first step. Knowing when and how to use them is equally important. Train your community.