Traveling within Clark and Washoe Counties: 

For short trips by land within your county, such as daily errands or local family visits, people generally face limited interaction with federal immigration authorities. However, encounters can still happen.

*You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials.

*You have the right to ask: “Am I being detained or am I free to go?”

Intrastate travel within Nevada: 

Example: Driving from Las Vegas to Reno or Reno to Elko

By car –

*Immigration checkpoints are not common within Nevada, but local or state law enforcement may conduct traffic stops.

*If you are driving and are pulled over, the officer can require you to show your license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, but you don’t have to answer questions about your immigration status.

*You have the right to remain silent.

*You have the right to not consent to a search of your vehicle.

*Do not provide false information or documents.

By airplane –

 As reported by the New York Times, TSA is sharing passenger information with ICE which makes air travel risky for undocumented immigrants and possibly also for those with vulnerable statuses such as Deferred Action (including DACA), TPS, and parole. There is an acute risk of arrest and deportation for migrants with removal orders, no matter how old, or with criminal records, no matter how minor.

It is important to take note that the Trump Administration is increasingly arresting and detaining immigrants who do no have any criminal records. People who in the past may have been able to travel by air with little risk may be are high risk today.

*A Real ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable identification is required for domestic flights for all travelers.

*You are not required to discuss your immigration status with the TSA.

*If questioned by immigration officers, you have the right to remain silent and to ask for a lawyer.

Out-of-Nevada travel:

*Many of the same advisory guidelines apply to domestic travel to other states, but be aware that other states and municipalities have varying degrees of collaboration with ICE.

*Be thoughtful about traveling out of Nevada to states where ICE is intentionally targeting the immigrant population with raids and mass deportation efforts. 

Out-of-country travel:

International travel can carry serious immigration risks, even for people with lawful status. If you are unsure about your status or have a pending case, speak to an immigration attorney before traveling.

*Traveling outside the United States may affect pending applications, parole, TPS, DACA, asylum claims, or other forms of relief.

*Re-entry is never guaranteed.

*Individuals should consult a trusted immigration attorney before leaving the country.

TRAVEL TIPS – CONSIDER CARRYING THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL DOCUMENTS:

• Paper copy of an official government document stating your legal status.
  • This may include a notice from USCIS or another government agency.
  • Ensure the document is clear and legible.
• Your physical Green Card or a U.S. Passport Card
  • For permanent residents, a LPR card (“Green Card”) is key proof of status.
  • A U.S. passport is the strongest form of identification if you have one. A photocopy may be sufficient.
• Driver’s license with Real ID, if available
  • A Real ID-compliant license is accepted for federal identification purposes.
  • If you have one, carry it with you.
• Because of increasing risks of racial profiling by ICE and Border Patrol agents:
  • US citizens who do not have a passport may wish to consider applying for one so that they have proof of US citizenship.

TRAVEL TIPS – AVOID CARRYING THE BELOW:

*A foreign passport, Consular ID, etc, if you don’t have legal permanent resident status or a currently valid visa. Your foreign passport may indicate your nationality and immigration status, which could be used against you in certain situations. NOTE: People on currently valid tourist, student, or temporary employment visas can carry a foreign passport.

*Original foreign birth certificate or immigration applications: These documents are valuable but should be stored safely rather than carried daily.

*Original Social Security Card.

*Expired or invalid visas/documents: Carrying expired documents may create confusion and could lead to unnecessary complications in an interaction with immigration authorities.

*Any document with sensitive personal information: Documents containing sensitive personal data, such as tax returns or bank statements, should be securely stored and not carried unless absolutely necessary.

*NOTE: Do not lie to ICE, Border Patrol, TSA, or other federal agents or present false documents: Giving false information or forged documents to immigration officers can lead to criminal charges, deportation, and future immigration bans.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS:

If ICE stops you . . .

*You can ask the officers if you are being detained, if you are not, then you are free to leave.

*You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any questions regarding your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the United States.

*Do not physically resist a government official and do not run away.

*If you are over 18 or over, and a non-citizen, an immigration officer may request to see your immigration documents.  If you have your documents, the law requires you to share them if you have them.

*If you do not have your immigration documents, you still have the right to remain silent and ask for an attorney.

*Do not provide false documents to officials.

If ICE comes to your home . . .

*In most circumstances, you are not required to open the door for ICE if they don’t have a judicial warrant. A Judicial warrant is a document that is signed by a judge.

*You have the right to remain silent and not answer any questions.

If ICE takes you into custody . . .

*You have the right to remain silent. Any statements regarding place of birth, nationality, immigration status or immigration history may be used against you to deport you. 

*You have the right to ask to speak with an attorney.

*You have the right to not sign any document that you do not understand. Even if the ICE officers are persistent and want to pressure you, do not sign.

*In certain cases, you can request to see the immigration judge. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to ask for bail to be released from custody.

*You have the right to request to contact your country’s consulate for help.

*If you have minor children, let the officers know that you are the parent or primary caregiver. ICE may “exercise discretion” and let you go.

To find loved ones who may have been detained: Search the ICE Detainee Locator.