Sign in

Do you have to show ICE your ID? Know your rights if you're stopped by agents

With ICE ramping up its raids across the US, here's what you must do if you encounter agents or are stopped by them.

Published on: Jan 13, 2026 1:49 PM IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

With ICE ramping up its raids across the United States, especially after the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it is important for Americans to know their rights. You must know what ICE agents can and cannot legally do if you encounter them or are stopped by them.

Do you have to show ICE your ID? Here are your rights if you're stopped by agents (REUTERS/Tim Evans) (REUTERS)
Do you have to show ICE your ID? Here are your rights if you're stopped by agents (REUTERS/Tim Evans) (REUTERS)

Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was gunned down by federal agent Jonathan Ross after she allegedly struck him with her vehicle. While Democrats condemned the killing, President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Ross shot Good in self-defense.

Read More | ICE arrests NYC council staffer during ‘routine immigration appointment,’ Mamdani calls it ‘assault on our democracy’

Do you have to show ICE your ID?

According to NAACP, if you are stopped by ICE agents, you have the right to remain silent, the way it works with any other interaction with law enforcement. “If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not have to provide your ID or proof of citizenship with the exception of driving. If driving, you are required to give your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance,” NCAAP says. “If you are a U.S. citizen, you can say “I am a U.S. citizen and you do not have authority to arrest or detain me.” If they decide to arrest you anyway, you have grounds for a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging unconstitutional detention or arrest.”

NCAAP additionally says that you have the right to record any interaction with ICE “as long as you are not interfering with an arrest.”

Read More | Can ICE enter a home or business without a warrant? What to know amid increasing raids

In case you are arrested, you have the right to speak with a lawyer. NCAAP also advises individuals not to sign anything without the advice of an attorney.

According to the National Immigrant Justice Center, “You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with the police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.”

  • Sumanti Sen
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Sumanti Sen

    Sumanti Sen is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she covers US news focusing on crime, politics and more. Her many years of experience include interviews with Hamas attack survivors, mental health experts, and victims/families of victims of crimes who want their voices to be heard. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved pooches.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.