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villages/hispanic/ AP Headlines Update Page
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Grand jury indicts 7 in NY immigrant killing |
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Juanes sweeps Latin Grammys with 5 wins |
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Hispanic
students juggle lives with school |
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Spain turns to Latinos to fill military ranks |
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Hispanic leaders endorse Richardson for cabinet |
villages/hispanic/ AP Headlines Update Page
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New opportunities section added
to our Career Center
New QuickSearches
by location and industry, salary tools, more at the
Career Center
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Ice on Immigration: Your
rights and border stops
By L. Patricia Ice, Featured
Columnist
Question: I am an undocumented immigrant from Latin America. I
plan to take a bus from Mississippi to Texas, then take another bus to
cross the border into Tamaulipas, Mexico, to
go back home. I have heard the U.S. Border
Patrol agents are stopping buses near the border and making Mexican
nationals an others sign documents that say we have been in the U.S.
without authorization. If my bus is stopped by an agent, do I have to
sign something if Border Patrol tells me to?
Answer: No. You do not have to sign anything you do not want to
sign. Furthermore, you should never sign anything you do not
understand. If a U.S. Border Patrol agent questions you in the United
States, you have the right to just give your name and then remain
silent. It is up to immigration officials to determine your
nationality, so you do not have to tell them your country of
citizenship. Just give your name, if he asks, and tell the Border
Patrol agent that you cannot answer any more questions without your
lawyer present. Have the phone number of your lawyer or Bureau of
Immigration Appeals (BIA) accredited representative with you, so that
you can call if you need to. Many immigrants become frightened when
confronted by U.S. immigration or other law enforcement officials. The
best thing is to not panic and to remain silent, and give only your name
if asked. Otherwise, say nothing.
The Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
Internet web site has a video that instructs you how to remain silent
and not sign anything if you are questioned by U.S. or other law
enforcement officials. Go to
http:/www.chirla.org to locate the Know Your Rights video. Please
watch and study it with your friends, whether documented or not.
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L. Patricia Ice
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Featured
IMDiversity Immigration Columnist L. Patricia Ice is an attorney and counselor who has taught
immigration law at Mississippi College School of Law
in Jackson, and also contributes regular immigration advice stories
to La Noticia and The Jackson Advocate. A
practicing attorney, Ms. Ice has recently taken on a two-year role
as an Equal Justice Works Katrina Legal Fellow, focusing on
immigrant employment issues as fair labor standards, and wage and
hour problems, in areas around the Gulf Coast. She is also
dedicated to immigrants rights advocacy, and serves on the Board of the non-profit
rights education group,
MIRA: The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance at
www.yourmira.org.
Articles in this column are Copyright 2006 L. Patricia Ice.
All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce further without
seeking the permission of the author.
IMDiversity.com is committed to presenting diverse points of view.
However, the viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of
the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or
employees at IMD.
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