What can you do if you receive a notice to appear from USCIS, or if you are in a removal proceeding? What rights do you have? Should you sign your voluntary departure? The website of the Alaska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offers information that could help immigrants in such difficult situations.
Lead Organizer for the Alaska ACLU Rashika Rakibullah says, “Everyone deserves to know what their rights are and how to exercise them, and the ACLU of Alaska is committed to making information about Alaskans’ constitutional rights as accessible as possible. That is why we are providing resources for immigrants in Alaska on our website. For people who are detained in Anchorage and transferred to Seattle, immigration procedures can be confusing and overwhelming. With the tools provided on our website, we hope to make the process more fair and easier to navigate.” The Guide for Detained Immigrants gives information about the first hearing that immigrants face after they have received a notice to appear. The document also helps them understand bail and defenses against deportation. The best options vary from immigrant to immigrant depending on their countries of origin, the way they arrived in the United States, the time they have stayed in the country, their criminal history and their family ties. This document also reviews the most common methods by which an immigrant can apply to a legal residence in the United States. In addition to the Guide for Detained Immigrants, Alaska ACLU’s website provides a Family Safety Planning Toolkit, a Safety Plan for Youth and Children, and power-of-attorney forms. These documents can be downloaded at: https://www.acluak.org/en/know-your-rights/information-detained-immigrants |
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