Important Education, Resources & Information for Concerned People Currently in the US
- Michelle Caron, RMT, CYT, ZIN
- Jan 27
- 4 min read
Dearest friends and readers of this blog,
The following educational resources are for your information and support. Please know that you have rights, regardless of your citizenship/immigration status. You are a person living in the USA, which means you have certain protections in place. If those are violated, they must be reported and shared in all ways possible.
Below you will find a list of local resources (local to Maine and Massachusetts), as well as an even longer list of resources below that, which is for everyone nationally. Please feel free to read through these, educate yourself and share any of the below resources with others as needed.
While neither blog is offering actual legal advice, both are meant to be informative about what you should know and actions you can take. You can also feel free to review my previous blog, which also has information specific to rights regarding DHS/ICE activities: Resources for Education & Resistance (as of 1/31/25)
In Maine:
You can report intimidating/excessive federal enforcement behavior by emailing the Attorney General’s Office:
Emails should include the following:
-Descriptions of any intimidating/excessive behavior by federal agents that people witness themselves
-Date/Location of incident
-Names of any people involved as actors or witnesses, if known, and contact information, if known
-Photographs/Videos will NOT be accepted through this email address, but DO include whether or not photos and videos are available. Provide contact information, so the office can arrange to obtain copies if deemed necessary.
-The AG office said this email address is NOT for seeking legal advice, legal representation or for requesting feedback. It is for reporting incidents only.
Key Reporting & Support Resources:
ICE Tip Line: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (For reporting immigration enforcement concerns).
Maine ICE Watch Hotline: Launched by Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition to track and report active immigration enforcement, operating from 6–9 a.m. and 5–9 p.m..
ACLU of Maine: Reports unlawful conduct or profiling by federal agents.
ILAP Maine: Provides legal help for individuals detained by ICE.
Important Information:
Rights: Individuals have the right to remain silent and not open their door without a judicial warrant.
Documentation: If you witness a raid, document the incident safely for the Maine ICE Watch hotline.
Legal Assistance: The Native American Rights Fund can be contacted if rights violations occur.
THE MAINE IMMIGRANT RESOURCE HUB & HOTLINE
In Massachusetts:
MIRA (Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition
LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts
LUCE Defense Hotline
Think You SEE I.C.E. in your area?
CALL: 617-370-5023
Facebook Group (United American Indians in New England) – Reporting ICE in the Boston area:
FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW:
ACLU
Know Your Rights, Share Your Rights: Immigrants' Rights
Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Help make sure everyone knows their rights.
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
WE HAVE RIGHTS (A campaign in multiple languages sharing rights and protections that everyone has in this country, regardless of immigration status/citizenship status)
THE CONSTITUTION WITH ALL AMENDMENTS OF THE USA:
FREE Pocket Copy of the Constitution of the USA:
US Bill of Rights:
FREE Downloadable AUDIO Copy of the US Constitution, Bill of Rights & Amendments:
Organizations working against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focus on ending immigrant detention, halting deportations, and reducing collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents:
Key groups include the ICE Out of CA coalition, NorCal Resist, Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Detention Watch Network, and ACLU. They provide legal defense, sanctuary, and policy advocacy, often pushing to "abolish" or significantly restructure the agency.
Key Organizations and Coalitions
ICE Out of CA (CIPC): A coalition pushing to end the entanglement of local law enforcement with ICE, supporting legislation like the HOME Act to stop transfers of immigrants to detention.
NorCal Resist (NCR)
:
Offers free ICE bail assistance, "Know Your Rights" trainings, and deportation defense campaigns
.
Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IC4IJ): Provides rapid response, legal resources, and basic needs support for detained immigrants.
Detention Watch Network (DWN): A national coalition working to expose, monitor, and end the detention of immigrants.
Immigrant Defense Project (IDP): Focuses on tracking, challenging, and educating communities on ICE raids and arrests.
CASA: Advocates for the abolishment of ICE, citing human rights abuses and family separations.
National Immigration Law Center (NILC): Works to stop funding for ICE and CBP and protects the rights of low-income immigrants.
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union): Engages in legal battles against mandatory detention and violations of immigrant rights.
Methods of Action
Policy Advocacy: Pushing for sanctuary laws, such as California's SB 54, to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Legal & Material Aid: Providing bond funds, lawyers, and support services to detained individuals and their families.
Protest & Organizing: Hosting rallies, campaigns, and direct actions to demand the release of detainees and abolition of detention centers.
Information Sharing: Distributing "Know Your Rights" materials and creating alert networks for raids.
Two hands in a heart shape
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