21/06/2025
**IMPORTANT COMMUNITY NOTICE**
Know Your Rights During Traffic Stops by Unmarked Vehicles
If you're driving and an unmarked car attempts to pull you over and you cannot clearly identify it as a local law enforcement agency (such as LAPD, LA County Sheriff’s, CHP as examples)
** DO NOT STOP **
DO NOT STOP If you know or suspect it is HSI or ICE!
Here’s what you need to know:
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) does not have general authority to pull people over without a specific legal basis.
They are NOT police officers. They are federal agents limited to enforcing immigration laws, NOT general traffic laws.
They CANNOT make a traffic stop unless:
They have reasonable suspicion linked to immigration enforcement, OR They have an arrest warrant for someone in the vehicle.
Even then, the stop must comply with constitutional protections against illegal search and seizure AND CANNOT begin to arrest or detain everyone in the vehicle.
California is a sanctuary state:
That means:
Local police (like LAPD or LA County Sheriffs) generally will NOT help ICE with civil immigration enforcement.
Unless ICE presents a JUDICIAL WARRANT OR there’s a serious criminal offense involved.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE BEING FOLLOWED BY AN UNMARKED VEHICLE:
📞 CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY
Tell the dispatcher an unmarked car is attempting to stop you are unsure that the vehicle behind you is a legitimate Local Law Enforcement Agency, DO NOT SPEED, Turn on you emergency blinkers and reiterate “You Do Not Feel Safe”.
Let the dispatcher know you intend to drive to the nearest police station and request you want uniformed officers waiting for you outside the station.
Stay on the line and REMAIN CALM!
Clearly state your name, birthdate, location, date, and time, All 911 calls are recorded and are time stamped - this creates a legal record that may protect you later.
Describe what’s happening and keep updating the dispatcher with your location as you drive. Dispatcher will guide you to the nearest station.
IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY ICE ON FOOT
You have the right to remain silent REGARDLESS OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS and can refuse to answer questions.
Ask: “Why am I being detained?” and ask “Am I free to go?”If they say yes, walk away calmly.
You DO NOT have to show ID unless you are driving and stopped by a State or Local officer for a traffic matter. Passengers and Pedestrians are NOT OBLIGATED to present ID unless there are specific legal circumstances.
ICE at times use administrative warrants, which DO NOT authorize entry to homes, vehicles or businesses without consent or permission. Only Judicial Warrants signed by a Judge carry that power of arrest.
If ICE tries to detain you in public:
Ask witnesses to record it, then Shout your Full Name and Birthdate (so bystanders can identify and support you later on)
Urge witnesses to record the incident. This is often the only way Attorneys, Family, or Nonprofits can find you if you’re taken. (That is how they look up inmates that are locked up)
Without this info you place yourself at greater risk being lost in the system or quietly transferred to an out-of-state detention center making it even harder for family to locate you.
SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, and COWORKERS.
