ACLU presents 'Know Your Rights' guidance on ICE encounters, schools and local policy to Human Rights Commission

Cody Schueller, advocacy manager for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota, briefed the Fargo Human Rights Commission on "Know Your Rights" guidance for immigrants and for local agencies when encountering immigration enforcement.

The briefing matters because reported ICE activity in parts of North Dakota and concerns about enforcement at sensitive sites — schools, hospitals and houses of worship — raise practical questions for immigrant residents and for local institutions about privacy, reporting and when law enforcement must or may cooperate.

Schueller summarized core guidance: “You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the U.S. You can say, ‘I’m exercising my right to remain silent,’ and do not sign any documents without a lawyer present.” He also said ICE cannot enter a home without a judicial warrant signed by a judge and recommended asking officers to slide the warrant under the door; if the warrant is not judge‑signed, homeowners do not have to permit entry. Schueller reiterated that detained individuals have a right to consult an attorney but that immigration proceedings do not guarantee government‑provided counsel in the same way criminal cases do.

Schueller told commissioners the ACLU has received reports of ICE activity in western North Dakota and on the Fort Berthold Reservation. He described community guidance — circulated by some tribal leaders and civil‑rights groups — advising people to carry state‑issued identification because some tribal IDs vary in format and may be less readily recognized by enforcement. He advised the commission that local police and school policies can limit cooperation with ICE, and recommended that schools require a subpoena or court order before releasing student records and not collect or share immigration‑status information as a matter of routine practice. On school incursions, he said ICE and law‑enforcement actions at schools should be rare and reserved for extraordinary circumstances.

Schueller urged practical preparation: keep immigration‑attorney contact numbers accessible, prepare a safety plan if detention is feared, and distribute reliable resources such as USCIS.gov and vetted legal‑aid contacts. He also said the ACLU is producing "Know Your Rights" cards and additional materials that he offered to share with the commission and local community partners.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Schueller and asked for materials to be shared with the executive committee; the commission did not take formal action at the meeting on immigration‑policy recommendations.