The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is distributing informational “red cards” to immigrants as deportation efforts intensify under President Donald Trump’s administration. These cards, created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), provide legal guidance to individuals who may encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
The cards are designed to help recipients understand and assert their constitutional rights. They advise immigrants not to open their doors to federal officials, avoid answering questions, and refrain from signing any documents without first consulting an attorney.
Each card includes a message to be handed to officers, stating, “I am giving you this card because I do not wish to speak or have any further contact with you. I choose to exercise my constitutional rights to remain silent and refuse to answer your questions. I want to speak to an attorney before I answer any questions.”
This initiative comes at a time when ICE has deported 7,300 individuals, many with criminal records, during Trump’s first week in office, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
California officials have responded by reaffirming their commitment to supporting immigrants in the state. In December, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) suggested that California might provide legal aid to immigrants at risk of deportation. Padilla remarked that the state’s diversity has been a source of strength and promised to assist families facing what he described as threats from the federal government.
Through the distribution of these cards, LAUSD aims to empower immigrant families and ensure they are informed of their rights during a time of heightened enforcement actions.
