The Dallas Democrat said the information could help constituents worried about stepped-up immigration enforcement.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, a former criminal defense attorney, hosted a Thursday night “Know Your Rights” virtual town hall to help constituents worried about President Donald Trump’s promise to step up immigration enforcement and deport those in the country without authorization.
Crockett was joined by area immigration attorneys Kathleen Martinez and Cristina Salazar, as well as Dallas criminal defense attorney Angel Mata, who focuses on clients with immigration issues.
They said there’s no requirement to open the door when immigration agents come knocking and no obligation to let them inside unless they have a valid warrant signed by a judge.
The constitutional right to remain silent applies as well.
“One of the things that I used to tell people all the time when I practiced criminal law was the most sacred right that you have is to shut up, so use it,” Crockett said.
Democrats in Congress have been holding district events and distributing literature alerting people to their rights and how to exercise them when they come into contact with immigration enforcement officers.
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has traded shots with Trump administration border czar Tom Homan over her public education efforts.
After she shared information about what is and isn’t required when confronted by immigration agents, Homan suggested Ocasio-Cortez could be in legal trouble for impeding efforts to apprehend violent criminals in the country illegally. He also called her the “dumbest congresswoman” ever elected.
She responded with a post on X, saying it’s her duty to educate people about their rights.
“This is why you fight these cowards,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “The moment you stand up to them, they crumble. Homan has nothing.”
The attorneys who participated in Crockett’s Thursday night town hall emphasized repeatedly they were sharing information and not offering legal advice.
Salazar often works with women who are immigrants and the victims of domestic violence.
“A lot of those clients do have criminal charges that are placed on them by the perpetrators of domestic violence, which is usually the spouse,” Salazar said.
The attorneys warned about the recent passage of the Laken Riley Act, which requires federal authorities to detain people who are in the country illegally and accused of stealing, assaulting law enforcement officers or committing other violent crimes.
Supporters hailed it as a common-sense measure to get criminals out of the country, but critics have said the new law violates due process because it applies even when people are accused, but not convicted, of crimes.
The attorneys urged people to consult an immigration lawyer about the resolution of a criminal case because even a pretrial diversion can affect immigration status in ways a criminal defense attorney might not be tracking.
“So what might be a really great deal for a citizen can absolutely have a negative effect for an immigrant,” Mata said. “So it’s really important to consult with an immigration attorney.”
A Crockett aide read a series of submitted questions for the attorneys to answer.
They recommended keeping any paperwork detailing efforts to obtain legal status. They said there is a process for clarifying a date of entry, an issue that often arises with adults who were brought into the country as children and are protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. They also recommended renewing green cards that are about to expire.
Asked if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are allowed to raid schools, the lawyers said yes, although under a previous policy they had to get authorization from higher-ups to go into “sensitive areas” such as schools, hospitals and places of worship.
A Trump administration policy change means they don’t need to take that step, the attorneys said, but they added they aren’t aware of agents going into schools in the Dallas area.
Families with members at risk of immigration enforcement should discuss what would happen if agents arrive on their doorstep.
“You need to talk, you know, where is everyone going to live?” Salazar said. “What are we going to do about our children?”
