Knowing Your Rights: A Message from Tree of Life Counseling Center
Good morning, everybody. This is Alyssa Cedillo from Tree of Life Counseling Center, and I just wanted to make you aware of some of your rights.
I attended a training today on Texas immigration and laws, and there are a lot of changes happening within our state. Please be advised that this is not legal advice, but I don’t want you to be uninformed or unaware. We’ll do our best to provide this video in Spanish as well.
Please know, I may be shuffling some papers around because I want to make sure I get all this information to you.
When a Police Officer Stops You
When a police officer stops you, they are legally allowed to stop and ask you information for no reason—they don’t need probable cause. You are legally allowed to invoke your Fifth Amendment right and choose not to have a conversation with them.
While there are red cards being passed around that explain the Fifth Amendment in both English and Spanish, I highly encourage our communities to practice saying in English: “Fifth Amendment. I would like a lawyer.”
It’s important to know that police agencies are not required to be truthful—they are legally allowed to be deceptive. Unfortunately, some people may come to your door pretending to hand out Bibles or ask about jobs, when in fact they are gathering information.
If someone comes to your door, you can ask them directly if they are law enforcement or ICE agents. However, they are still not required to answer honestly. This is why it’s so important to remember your rights.
Providing Information
When an enforcement officer stops you, you are not required to have a conversation with them. If you are detained, you are required by law to provide only your name, address, and date of birth. You are not required to share your immigration or legal status.
If an officer—whether ICE or regular police—comes to your door, they cannot legally enter your property without consent. It is highly recommended to ask for information through the door or a window. As soon as you open the door, officers may take that as permission to push their way inside.
If they say they have a warrant, they can slide it under the door. It must be signed by a judge and clearly state what they are searching for. Administrative warrants are not something you have to comply with—you should contact your lawyer if you’re presented with one.
Detention and Questioning
When an officer stops you, ask them directly: “Am I free to go?” If you are not detained, you are free to leave.
Officers may use what’s called a “temporary detention” if they believe there is cause. If they say you are detained, that is the exact moment you should invoke your Fifth Amendment right and refuse to self-incriminate. This applies whether you are a U.S. citizen or not.
I encourage all of us to begin “dragging our feet.” There is no reason why we need to be assisting people in deportations. A lot of new laws being put into place are extremely punitive.
For example, if Senate Bill 4 passes, individuals may be asked to sign a piece of paper that leads to immediate deportation. While this may seem simple, it can have serious long-term consequences.
Protecting Children and Families
We don’t have all the answers yet, but we will continue to learn, share, and protect one another. One key point for families: if there is any possibility of deportation, make sure your documents are organized and accessible—birth certificates, school records, and medical information. Identify a trusted person who knows where these documents are.
Unfortunately, we also need to include our children in these conversations. While we don’t want to alarm or terrify them, we do need to prepare them. Teach them to keep a safe person’s phone number programmed into their phone or written down, someone who is legally able to pick them up.
At schools, make sure you list multiple trusted individuals as contacts in case something happens.
Final Notes
I do not share this information lightly, and I am not unaffected by it. But it is important that we do our best to care for one another and stay informed. As more information comes in, we will continue to share it with you in both English and Spanish.
At Tree of Life Counseling Center, we have posted that our property is private. Police officers and ICE agents are not permitted to enter without consent. While they may be around the property, they cannot come onto it. Our policy is not to engage in conversations with ICE or police officers at this time.
As laws change and federal and state cooperation increases, please keep yourselves safe and protect one another. Thank you for all that you are doing to care for your families and communities.
United in solidarity,
Tree of Life Counseling Center
- Video originally posted Feb 12th, 2025
The content of this video is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Tree of Life Counseling Center and its providers are not qualified to offer legal guidance. If you need legal assistance, please consult a licensed attorney.
