Know Your Rights: Interacting with ICE in the DMV

Last updated: January 16, 2026 09:02 am

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In the DMV, where daily life crosses jurisdictional boundaries, immigration enforcement functions as a regional force. Families in this region often live in one jurisdiction, work in another, and rely on schools and hospitals, and public services spread across both state and district borders.

But your rights do NOT change when you cross these borders.

Legal Support and on Arrest, Detention, and Deportation in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia

If you or a loved one faces detention, deportation, or any complex immigration issue, these groups provide free or low-cost legal assistance:

Immigration Advocates Network: www.immigrationadvocates.org

American Immigration Lawyers Association: www.ailalawyer.com

List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers (Department of Justice): https://www.justice.gov/eoir/file/probonofulllist/dl

Asylum Advocacy: https://asaptogether.org/es/

ICE – Online Detainee Locator System: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search

Human Rights First Lifeline App: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/human-rights-first-launches-readynow-app-to-offer-lifeline-to-immigrants-during-ice-encounters/

Rapid Response Hotline: www.dcmigrantmutualaid.org/hotline

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