What’s Happening Right Now
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are conducting traffic stops and establishing checkpoints across Washington, DC. Recent reports documented enforcement activity on Canal Road in November, with vehicles being seized. DC police officers have been directed to alert ICE when they encounter individuals without documentation during routine traffic stops.
The scope is significant. Since the Trump administration’s federal takeover of DC policing in August, ICE has expanded operations dramatically. According to the White House, 308 individuals have been apprehended in DC since August 7, with 135 identified as undocumented immigrants. Construction workers, day laborers, and service industry employees report elevated fear of workplace and street enforcement.
This Reddit post shows ICE in DC setting up checkpoints and roadblocks.
Why This Matters
If you’re a contractor, construction worker, day laborer, or regular driver in DC—or if you’re undocumented or an immigrant—ICE checkpoints directly affect your safety and legal rights. Community advocates report discriminatory enforcement patterns targeting people of color. Fear is changing behavior: immigrants report reducing outings, asking friends with legal status for rides to work, and carrying documentation out of anxiety.
Beyond individual impact, immigration enforcement is eroding trust between immigrant communities and local police. When immigrants fear law enforcement, advocates warn, they stop reporting crimes—making neighborhoods less safe overall.
Your Constitutional Rights If Stopped
You have rights under the U.S. Constitution, whether or not you are a citizen. Here’s what you need to know:
XYou have the right to remain silent.
You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the country. Do not lie—staying silent is your legal protection. Once you invoke your right to remain silent, any continued questioning violates your rights.
You can ask if you’re free to leave.
Ask the officer directly: “Am I free to leave?” If they say yes, walk away calmly. If they say no, you are being detained—invoke your right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer.
You can refuse a search.
You have the right to refuse a search of yourself, your vehicle, or your belongings unless the officer has a judicial warrant (signed by a judge) or probable cause. Say clearly: “I do not consent to a search.” If they search anyway, do not physically resist—document what happened.
You must show certain documents if asked.
If you are a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration status and are pulled over in traffic, you must show your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. If you have valid immigration papers, you can show them. If you are undocumented and asked for immigration documents, you can decline to answer.
You have the right to speak with a lawyer.
If detained, you have the right to request a lawyer. With ICE, the government doesn’t have to provide one, but you have the right to hire one. Memorize your attorney’s phone number. You can also contact your country’s consulate if detained.
If ICE Comes to Your Home
Do not open the door. Officers must have a judicial warrant (signed by a judge) to enter your home. ICE “warrants” are forms signed by ICE officers—they do not grant authority to enter without your permission. Teach your children not to open the door.
Stay calm and document. If you safely can, record video or write down badge numbers, vehicle information, and times. This information may help in future legal cases.
ICE Checkpoints: Practical Preparation Steps
Create a safety plan now, before an encounter:
- Memorize emergency contact phone numbers. Write them down and keep them with you.
- If you have children, provide written authorization for a trusted family member or friend to make medical and legal decisions if you’re detained.
- Keep a copy of any pending immigration applications or valid documentation with you.
- If detained, ICE has an online detainee locator at https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search. Share your A-number (9-digit immigration number) with family so they can find you.
What NOT to carry: Do not carry a foreign passport, consulate card, or foreign ID. These documents can be used to expedite deportation.
Where to Get Legal Help in the DMV
Free and low-cost legal resources are available:
DC:
- DC Volunteer Lawyers Project: (202) 425-7573. Free walk-in clinics Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Spanish-language services available.
- Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services: (240) 858-0958. Consultations available Monday 1-5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Wednesdays 3-7 p.m.
- Capital Area Immigrants Rights Coalition (CAIR): (202) 331-3320. Serves detained immigrants. Detention line: (202) 331-3329.
- ACLU Virginia: Know Your Rights hotline and resources at acluva.org
Maryland:
- Ayuda (multilingual immigrant services): Silver Spring office at (240) 594-0600. Consultations by appointment.
- Central American Resource Center (CARECEN): (202) 328-9799. Call Mondays for appointment scheduling.
Virginia:
- Ayuda: Fairfax office at (703) 444-7009 for legal consultations.
- Tahirih Justice Center: (571) 282-6161. Serves survivors of gender-based violence. Maryland location: (410) 999-1900.
What Happens Next
Community organizers are pushing back. The DC Council is hearing testimony from residents about ICE-police collaboration. Some cities, including Chicago, have established “ICE-free zones” banning federal agents from using city property as staging areas. Whether DC will implement similar protections remains unclear.
More enforcement operations are likely. Legal challenges to DC police cooperation with ICE are ongoing in federal court.
