Waukegan school district hosts "know your rights" immigration presentation; district schedules follow-up meeting

Belany Contreras, an immigration attorney with the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, told parents at a Waukegan CUSD 60 community presentation that immigrants whether documented or not should know their rights when encountering federal immigration agents and how schools and employers can limit exposure to enforcement actions.

The presentation, held at a Waukegan school and introduced by school board director Oscar Dupuy, covered what constitutes a judicial warrant or probable cause, what ICE agents may and may not do at homes, workplaces and school sites, and steps families can take to prepare, Contreras said. "Es importante que conozcan los derechos de inmigrantes, si es alguien que tiene estatus o no," she said.

Contreras outlined practical guidance: ask agents for a judicial warrant and review it before opening the door; do not sign documents you do not understand; exercise the right to remain silent; do not present false documents; and keep original immigration documents stored safely at home. She explained federal immigration forms she said parents commonly encounter: the…