ICE Defense

314-370-7080 St. Louis Rapid Response Coalition · 24/7 · Legal aid, detention locator, family support

ICE at Your Door #

1 Stay inside. Do not open.

2 Ask through the door: "Do you have a warrant signed by a judge?"

3 If yes: "Slide it under the door." Look for a judge's signature and your correct name/address. ICE administrative warrants lack a judge's signature—they don't count.

4 Say:

"I do not consent to entry."

5 Record through the window if safe. Call 314-370-7080.

Stopped in Public #

1 Ask:

"Am I free to leave?"

2 If yes: walk away calmly.

3 If detained, say:

"I am a US citizen."

4 Show ID. Passport is strongest. Then stay silent.

5 Say:

"I want an attorney."

6 Sign nothing.

Someone Was Detained #

1 Call 314-370-7080 — they'll help you find legal aid and locate the detainee.

2 Call an immigration attorney directly:
LSEM 314-256-8756 · MICA 314-669-4290

3 Search locator.ice.gov/odls — may take 24-48 hours to appear in system.

4 Activate emergency contacts. Secure children with your designated caretaker.

5 Attorney files bond hearing request (no fee). Hearing typically within 1-2 weeks.

314-370-7080 St. Louis Rapid Response Coalition · 24/7

Prepare Before Anything Happens

Documents to Carry #

US Passport or Passport Card — strongest proof of citizenship
Certified birth certificate
State REAL ID — proves lawful presence, not citizenship

Citizens aren't legally required to carry proof. But ID resolves most encounters. Without it, citizens have been detained for "verification."

Emergency Contacts #

Memorize the hotline: 314-370-7080

LSEM (Legal Services)314-256-8756

MICA Project314-669-4290

ACLU Missouri314-652-3111

Catholic Legal314-977-3993

Designate 2-3 trusted contacts. Who picks up your children? Who can access accounts if you're unreachable?

Document Package #

Give a copy to your trusted person:

Birth certificates (all family members)
Marriage license
Social Security cards
Medical records, prescriptions
School records
Financial accounts, insurance policies
Power of Attorney forms

Childcare Designation #

Talk to an immigration attorney about your options:

Standby Guardianship — activates in emergency, best for immigration scenarios

Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit — temporary authority, no court required

Power of Attorney — covers finances and medical decisions, not childcare

Home Preparation #

Post "Know Your Rights" by your front door.

Teach children: don't answer the door for strangers.

Practice together: "ICE is here. What do we do?"

Community Network #

Join or create a neighborhood Signal group — encrypted, not SMS.

Install ICEBlock (iOS) or SignalSafe for real-time community alerts.

Follow @stlrapidresponse on Instagram for local enforcement patterns.

To report a sighting: text location and details to your group, then call 314-370-7080. Don't post unverified info publicly.

Why This Matters #

ICE detained 170+ US citizens in 2025's first nine months. Citizens held for days without contact. Valid IDs rejected.

In Missouri, traffic stops are the primary enforcement method. The state signed a 287(g) agreement training 45 highway patrol troopers in immigration enforcement. Reported activity: St. Charles, Arnold, South County, I-44 corridor.

The difference between 2 hours with ID versus 48 hours incommunicado is preparation. The difference between your children with a designated caretaker versus in state custody is paperwork completed today.

You're not paranoid. You're prepared.

314-370-7080 St. Louis Rapid Response Coalition · 24/7 · Legal aid, detention locator, family support

Printable Cards → — Wallet-sized quick reference

Sources: ProPublica, ILRC, Immigrant Justice, CLINIC

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