Evanston officials offer know-your-rights training, temporary guardianship steps for immigrant families

Moran Center staff and Evanston officials led a community session on how immigrant residents can prepare if federal civil immigration enforcement occurs, including steps for safety planning, temporary guardianship for children and clarity on what local police will and will not do.

Megan McClung, managing attorney with the civil legal team at the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, gave the practical legal guidance. McClung said, “If an officer comes to your door, any officer, you do not open the door. Teach your children to not open the door. And what you want to do is ask the officer to slide a valid judicial warrant under your door.” She emphasized that a valid warrant must be signed by a judge, include the person’s name, and identify the property to be searched, and that ICE forms claiming to be warrants do not count.

McClung walked through a…