Help Immigrant Neighbors — Ayuda

Help Immigrant Neighbors / Ayuda a los vecinos inmigrantes

This page is a work in progress. If you have other sources of information that could help local immigrant families, please send specifics to jjcarney100@gmail.com. Thank you.

#1 Sign the petition for Constitutional and humane treatment of immigrants.

Help us convince our local governments in Lago Vista, Point Venture, and Jonestown to pass resolutions to protect immigrant families from illegal detentions and property searches/seizures by federal agents.

Scan the QR code above or go to https://secure.everyaction.com/dixmGOk5EkuiHUahL95bxQ2 to sign.

Among other things, the resolution calls for:

Prompt reporting about who was detained and why, and where they were taken.
That enforcement officers wear body cameras and uniforms that identify themselves and their agency.
Also that they avoid covering their faces unless necessary for health reasons.

The need is urgent. More ICE activity is being spotted in our neighborhoods. Sign the petition today! We thank Indivisible 1431 for providing this useful online tool to help us protect the Constitutional rights of us all!

#2 Share information about what to do if a federal agent knocks on your door.

This advice published on February 10 in the Austin American-Statesman is a simple step-by-step guide on how to respond to a threatening situation. Please download,and share. For English version https://www.northshoredemocrats.org/_files/ugd/e5d5cf_44fbf523bc82424794b8270e91900d93.pdf. For Spanish version (aquí).

You can also distribute red cards. This simple tool, created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, explains the 5th amendment Constitutional rights of everyone residing in the U.S., regardless of immigration status. It’s printed in English on one side, Spanish on the other. It’s designed to be handed to agents to alert them that the bearer knows his or her legal rights.

You can order a minimum of 100 red cards ($40 plus shipping/tax) or print your own (much cheaper). Go to https://www.ilrc.org/redcards#item-4477 to download the free art work. Available in many languages.

#3 Be vigilant. Spot and report ICE activity.

We don’t yet have a local network yet established. For now, report using the contact form on the NSD website at https://www.northshoredemocrats.org/contact. Include as much in the way of detail as you can: date, time, and description of incident, vehicle description(s) & license (if you can get it), agent clothing, agency badges, etc.

We’re still figuring out the details of how to respond. If you want notice of incidents, let us know using the contact form.

Note that NSD files are proprietary and not shared outside of NSD. Unlike the Texas voter rolls!

#4 Use your First Amendment right to document and record.

There’s a primer from No Kings at https://www.youtube.com/live/4xBUa67XAyM. At 16 minutes 30 seconds in, watch the section on “Know your rights.” You have the right to photograph or film anything plainly visible in public, including law enforcement, so long as you are not trespassing or violating a lawful order.

Without a warrant (signed by a judge), law enforcement may not confiscate or demand to view the the contents of your digital devices, nor may they delete your data.

You can stand up for your rights, without being disrespectful. See role-playing on the video.

#5 Share helpful numbers with immigrant families.

Here’s a list of Texas organizations available to help Texas immigrants:

ACLU Texas Immigrant Rights Hotline

Takes calls in Spanish and English

Interpretation available in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Arabic and other languages

(833) 468-4664 9 am - 5 pm CST Mon-Fri

American Gateway

Assists low-income immigrants with various applications

https://www.americangateways.org/

In Austin:

314 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Ste. 501, Austin, TX 78752

(512) 478-0546 ext. 200

Catholic Charities of Central Texas:

Offers low-cost services for family reunification, DACA, and more

https://ccctx.org/

In Austin:

1625 Rutherford Lane, Austin, TX 78754

(512) 651-6100

RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)

Provides legal aid and counseling

https://raicestexas.org/

In Austin:

3000 S IH-34 #200, Austin, TX 78704

(833) 372-4237

Texas Civil Rights Project

Files cases that affect the civil rights of large numbers of people

https://www.txcivilrights.org/

PO Box 17747, Austin TX 78760

info@texascivilrightsproject.org

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)

Free civil legal services, including immigration

https://www.trla.org/

301 South Texas Avenue, Mercedes, TX 78570

Hotline: (956) 996-8752 9 am - 5 pm CST Mon-Fri

Español

Qué hacer en un encuentro con agentes policiales

Derechos de los Inmigrantes — ACLU

Esta página está en desarrollo. Si tiene otras fuentes de información que puedan ayudar a las familias inmigrantes locales, envíe información específica a jjcarney100@gmail.com. Gracias.

Consejos del periódico

Austin American-Statesman

(versión en forma pdf aquí)

Qué hacer si un agente de inmigración toca a tu puerta.

Publicado el 10 de febrero de 2026.

Su consejo es simple: mantén la puerta cerrada, mantén la voz calmada y haz que los oficiales sigan el proceso formal.

Si ICE toca, haz esto (paso a paso):

1. No abras la puerta. Habla a través de la puerta. Enseña a los niños a no abrirla.

2. Pregunta quiénes son y solicita una orden judicial. Puedes pedirles que muestren identificación o placa y que digan de qué agencia son. Luego pregunta:

“¿Tienen una orden judicial firmada por un juez?”

3. Pide que deslicen la orden por debajo de la puerta (o que la sostengan contra una ventana). No abras la puerta “solo para recibir el papel”.

4. Revisa la orden cuidadosamente. Los grupos legales enfatizan esta diferencia: muchas “órdenes” de ICE son formularios administrativos firmados por ICE, no por un juez, y no autorizan automáticamente la entrada a una vivienda sin consentimiento. La firma de un juez es el detalle clave que recomiendan verificar.

5. Expresa claramente que no consientes la entrada. Una frase simple, sin debatir:

“No doy mi consentimiento para que entren a mi casa.”

Es un derecho constitucional.

6. Usa tu derecho a guardar silencio. Pide un abogado. Si comienzan a hacer preguntas (dónde naciste, cómo entraste, tu estatus), puedes repetir:

“Elijo guardar silencio. Quiero hablar con un abogado.”

7. No mientas ni entregues documentos falsos. No firmes nada. Los defensores legales advierten que cualquier cosa que digas o firmes puede ser usada en tu contra después.

Si entran por la fuerza:

No te resistas. Pide un abogado y deja de responder preguntas. Luego escribe todo lo que recuerdes (hora, qué ocurrió, descripciones, nombres si puedes).

Prepárate antes de que aparezcan:

• Elige un contacto de emergencia y memoriza su número.

• Asegúrate de que la escuela o guardería de tus hijos tenga una persona autorizada que pueda recogerlos.

• Deja permisos médicos y de cuidado por escrito donde tu contacto de emergencia pueda encontrarlos.

• Si alguien es detenido, la familia puede intentar localizarlo usando el localizador de detenidos en línea de ICE.

• La orientación legal en Texas también enfatiza lo básico: mantente en calma, no corras y no abras la puerta a menos que haya una orden firmada por un juez.

Aquí hay una lista de organizaciones de Texas disponibles para ayudar a los inmigrantes de Texas:

ACLU Texas Immigrant Rights Hotline

Takes calls in Spanish and English

Interpretation available in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Arabic and other languages

(833) 468-4664 9 am - 5 pm CST Mon-Fri

American Gateway

Assists low-income immigrants with various applications

https://www.americangateways.org/

In Austin:

314 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Ste. 501, Austin, TX 78752

(512) 478-0546 ext. 200

Catholic Charities of Central Texas: