What to Do If ICE Comes to Your Door (2026 Guide)
The single most important thing to know: an ICE administrative warrant is not the same as a warrant signed by a judge, and only one of them lets them inside.
Updated August 18, 2026
If immigration officers arrive at your home, the decisions that matter most are made in the first sixty seconds, through a closed door. This guide covers what your rights are, how to tell a real judicial warrant from an administrative one, and what to have ready long before anyone knocks.
Your rights at the door
- You have the right to remain silent. You can say "I do not want to answer any questions."
- You have the right to speak to a lawyer, and to say so out loud.
- You do not have to open the door unless officers show a warrant signed by a judge.
- You can record what happens. Do not physically resist or interfere.
- You do not have to hand over your passport or consular documents unless a judicial search warrant specifically lists them.
The warrant distinction that decides everything
This is the part most people do not know, and it is the part that matters. There are two very different documents that both get called a "warrant".
An administrative warrant (ICE Form I-200 or I-205)
Issued by DHS or ICE and signed by a DHS or ICE employee. It does not give officers legal authority to enter your home. Seeing one does not mean you have to open the door.
A judicial warrant
Issued by a court and signed by a judge. It names the person and/or the areas to be searched. This is the one that authorises entry.
- Ask through the door whether they have a warrant signed by a judge.
- If they say yes, ask them to slip it under the door.
- Look at the top of the document: was it issued by a court, or by DHS/ICE?
- Look at the signature line: is it signed by a judge, or by a DHS/ICE employee?
- If it was not issued by a court and signed by a judge, you do not have to open the door.
What to prepare before it ever happens
Almost everything that goes wrong in these moments comes down to the same problem: the paperwork is somewhere else, and the person who knows where it is may be the person who was detained. Preparation is what turns a crisis into a process.
- Keep copies of every immigration document where you can reach them in seconds, including from outside the house.
- Memorise, or store somewhere reachable, the phone number of an immigration attorney.
- Agree in advance who gets called, and make sure that person can access your documents.
- Make a written care plan for children, including who is authorised to collect them from school.
- Know your A-number (alien registration number) if you have one.
If someone is detained
- Write down the date, time, location, and any officer names or badge numbers.
- Ask where the person is being taken. Detention location determines which attorneys and bond options apply.
- Contact an immigration attorney as early as possible.
- Gather the detained person's immigration documents. This is where having them already digitised saves days.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your own case, speak to a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited representative.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to open the door if ICE knocks?
No. You do not have to open the door unless officers present a warrant signed by a judge. An administrative warrant issued by DHS or ICE and signed by a DHS or ICE employee does not authorise entry into your home.
How do I tell if a warrant is signed by a judge?
Ask officers to slip the warrant under the door. Check the top of the document to see whether it was issued by a court or by DHS/ICE, then check the signature line to see whether a judge signed it or a DHS/ICE employee did. Only a court warrant signed by a judge allows entry.
Do I have to answer questions about where I was born or my immigration status?
No. You have the right to remain silent, and that includes questions about your birthplace, your status, and how you entered the country. You can say that you do not want to answer questions and that you want to speak to a lawyer.
Can I record ICE officers?
Rights organisations advise that you can use your phone to record and take notes during an encounter. Do not physically resist or interfere with officers while doing so.
Should I show my passport or consular documents?
Guidance from rights organisations is not to hand over passport or consular documents unless officers have a search warrant signed by a judge that specifically lists those items.