Immigration Action Toolkit

The following is offered for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. This area of the law is very complicated and fact-specific, and we urge you to consult local counsel for particular legal help. The resources below are from many organizations that are active in protecting migrants’ rights from multiple perspectives.

What to Know

Since 2025, the Trump Administration has made sweeping policy changes on immigration that impact millions of people. Many of these new policies have been—and will continue to be—challenged by the courts, and we anticipate continued shifts. In our support of migrants, and those living in our communities who face uncertain futures, obtaining and sharing accurate information is critical.

Ways to Help

Stay informed
- Participate in weekly immigration and advocacy calls
- Subscribe to receive weekly updates from the Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs

Be prepared
- “Know Your Rights” training can help clergy, undocumented people, and allies know how to handle a possible encounter with federal, state, or local law enforcement

Advocate to elected officials
- Contact your government representatives through these action alerts
- Episcopal Church One-pager on Immigration and Refugees

Support Episcopal Migration Ministries
- Read more about EMM’s current work
- Make a gift to EMM
- Join the Episcopal Migration Response Network

Resources for Dioceses, Churches, and Individuals

Family, church, and individual preparedness
- Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan (Immigrant Legal Resource Center)
- Sample power of attorney letter, English and español (National Latino Evangelical Coalition)
- Immigrant Registration primer, April 11, 2025 (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) (en español)
- What Can Congregations Do to Prepare for Immigration Raids? (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
- How to prepare for immigration proceedings (USAHello) (en español)
- Legal Guide for Congregations Serving as Sanctuaries for Immigrants (Interfaith Center of New York)
- People on the Move: A Resource Equipping Churches to Welcome and Support Migrants, Refugees and Internally Displaced People (Anglican Alliance) (en español)

Know your rights
- Know Your Rights: Five Things Parents Detained by ICE Should Know (The Center for Law and Social Policy) (en español)
- Know Your Rights (Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.)
- Know Your Rights (Informed Immigrant) (en español)
- Know Your Rights card, in English and español (National Latino Evangelical Coalition)
- Know Your Rights for Immigrant Students & Schools (American Federation of Teachers) (en español) 
- Manual for Pastors & Church Leaders in Response to Executive Orders on Immigration (National Latino Evangelical Coalition) (en español)
- Protected areas factsheet (National Immigration Law Center)
- Protecting our Students & Families Toolkit (American Federation of Teachers) (en español)
- 15 Things Educators & School Support Staff Can Do to Support Immigrant Youth & Families (American Federation of Teachers) (en español)
- Sample administrative (ICE) warrant (National Immigration Law Center – see full document)
- Sample judicial warrant (National Immigration Law Center – see full document)
- Know Your Rights: Enforcement at the Airport (American Civil Liberties Union) (en español)
- Know Your Rights: What to Do if Arrested or Detained by Immigration (National Immigration Law Center) (en español)
- Rights & Risks for Green Card Holders (National Immigration Law Center) (en español)
- An Explainer on CBP Home (National Immigration Law Center)(en español)

Immigration Court Accompaniment Volunteer Programs

New York City:
- New Sanctuary Coalition: Weekly trainings at Brooklyn Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), 110 Schemerhorn St., Brooklyn, New York. Visits courts in groups several mornings per week, meeting in advance at a designated spot.
- Sacred Court Support: In-person training on Sept. 15 (2025). This is a “high-touch” program that identifies people in advance and follows them throughout their process.
- Immigration ARC (Advocates Response Collaborative): Friend of the Court program

California:
- North Bay Rapid Response Network: This network, which covers Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties in the San Francisco Bay Area, offers training to be a legal observer and accompany people at risk to court hearings in Santa Rosa, as well as immigration court hearings and ICE check-ins in San Francisco. Become a Rapid Response Legal Observer | NBOP
- Faith In Action Bay Area: This network has a rapid response program to witness and document ICE activity and get appropriate legal counsel involved.

Illinois:
- Chicago: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights Court Watch program

Additional Resources by Topic

Asylum and other temporary status
- Resources for asylum seekers (Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project) (en español)
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Fact Sheet (National Immigration Forum) (en español)

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) and Dreamers
- Fact Sheet: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (National Immigration Forum) (en español)

Immigration Enforcement, Detention, and Deportation
- How to Find a Loved One After a U.S. Immigration Arrest (National Immigration Law Center) (en español)
- Expedited Removal Toolkit (Immigrant Legal Resource Center)

Impact of Reconciliation Law
- New Funding Increases Immigration Enforcement – Explains how new federal money for enforcement will be spent (National Immigration Law Center) (en español)
- New Law Changes Taxes for Immigrants – Explains changes in the tax code impacting immigrants (National Immigration Law Center) (en español)
- New Law Limits Health Care & Food Aid for Immigrants – Explains immigrants’ public benefit eligibility changes (National Immigration Law Center) (en español)

Indigenous people
- Resources for Individuals and Nonprofits Approached by ICE (Native American Rights Fund)
- Know Your Rights: Native Americans and Immigration Enforcement (ACLU Nebraska)

Organizations focused on immigration

Refugees
- Refugee Council USA
- A Guide for Community and Business Leaders Advocating for Refugees (Refugee Advocacy Lab)

Religious workers
- R-1 Status: A Temporary Path for Religious Work 
Additional Spanish resources
- Recursos en español (National Immigration Forum)

Episcopal Church immigration policies

The Episcopal Church has a long history of welcoming and advocating for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees through its Episcopal Migration Ministries and Office of Government Relations.

Letter from Episcopal Church leaders on Trump administration immigration executive orders—Jan. 21, 2025

Summary of Episcopal Church policy on immigration and refugee issues

Policy for Action: An Index of Episcopal Church Public Policy Resolutions, including refugee and immigration issues

Upcoming Events

Frequently Asked Questions

If agents show up with a warrant seeking entry to private areas of the church, don’t invite them in. Ask to see the warrant. If it is a judicial warrant (signed by a judge and filed in a court), verify that it correctly specifies your location. Call a lawyer right away and help people remain calm while agents perform their duties.

If agents hold an administrative (Department of Homeland Security) warrant, they cannot enter private areas of a church unless someone gives them consent to enter. Ask them to wait outside while you call a lawyer for advice on how to proceed.

Agents with either type of warrant can enter public areas of the church without consent and make arrests. If this happens, focus on keeping people safe and as calm as possible.

Designate and train one or two church members to speak to any agents who show up. They should understand their rights (see “Know Your Rights” resources above), how not to give consent to enter private spaces, and what to look for in a warrant.
Determine and delineate which areas of your church property are private and which are public. Think about how you consistently use those spaces. Areas that are always open to the public during certain hours would be considered public spaces. An Episcopal narthex and sanctuary are generally open to the public during times of worship, for example. Possible examples of private areas could include the sacristy, church offices, classrooms, the rectory, and food pantries. Consider posting signs to indicate private areas.
Develop an emergency contact list that includes a local attorney, your diocesan chancellor, and local legal aid groups.
Don’t ask parishioners about their legal status. As a church, you don’t need to know the legal status of individuals who attend. This can help protect both you and them.

The Episcopal Church has recommitted to the spirit of the “New Sanctuary Movement,” and many dioceses have declared themselves sanctuary dioceses. This term can be confusing. When used for cities, the term typically refers to a jurisdiction where local or state law enforcement will not cooperate with federal authorities who are carrying out immigration enforcement. In the church context, it generally refers to denominations or congregations that offer a ministry of welcome and support for migrants.

We urge you to learn more about your local jurisdiction and to connect with local groups who will understand your context. We encourage using language of “welcome” and “ministry,” rather than “sanctuary.”

Congregations can continue to provide resources, such as food, clothing, language classes, and transportation to appointments, as well as help families with preparedness plans. Another way to support these individuals might include setting up a fund to help with potential legal fees or for detention bonds. From an advocacy standpoint, parishioners can stay informed and reach out to elected officials on issues related to immigrants’ rights.

As people of prayer, we absolutely should lift our concerns and petitions to God. Be mindful not to share details about someone’s immigration status or court hearings.