Your Rights as a Business

Every person in your business has rights, regardless of immigration status. You and your staff are allowed to do the following:

• You do not have to answer questions about immigration status.
• You have the right to speak with an attorney.
• Immigration enforcement cannot enter private or employee-only areas of your business without a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge.
• You are allowed to ask to see that warrant and read it before allowing access.

Suggested language you can use:
“This is a private area. I need to see a judicial warrant signed by a judge before I can let you in.” Click here for printable signage.

What is a judicial warrant?

A judicial warrant is signed by a judge and usually identifies the specific person or area that can be searched. An agency form or paperwork signed only by immigration authorities is not the same thing. You are allowed to review any paperwork that is presented to you before allowing anyone into a non-public area.

Public areas are places any customer can walk into (dining room, retail floor, lobby).
Non-public areas include employee-only areas, storage, kitchen, back office, behind the bar, coolers, or anything behind a “Staff Only” or “No Public Access” door.

Your Responsibilities as an Employer

In addition to knowing your rights, it helps to prepare your team ahead of time. A calm, consistent response protects both your staff and your business.

• Decide in advance who on your team is allowed to speak to law enforcement or federal agents. Everyone else can say,
  “I’m not the owner or manager. I can get them for you.”
• Train your staff not to voluntarily escort anyone into back-of-house or staff-only areas. Voluntary consent can count as permission.
• Keep employee records and I-9 forms organized in one secure location so you are not scrambling during a stressful moment.
• Do not lie, and do not destroy documents.
• Document what you safely can: time, location, number of officers/agents, what was requested.

We recommend sharing this information with shift leads, floor managers, and whoever opens or closes. It should not live with just one owner if that owner is not always on site.

What To Do In The Moment

1. Stay calm and stay safe.
   Do not confront or interfere. Your job is to protect your people and your space.
2. Control access to private areas.
   You do not have to allow entry to kitchens, storage rooms, offices, coolers, or other employee-only areas unless you are shown a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge.
3. Ask to see paperwork.
   You can say, “May I please see the warrant.” You are allowed to read it. You are allowed to confirm it is signed by a judge.
4. Take notes, not risks.
   If it is safe, write down details like time, location, badge numbers if visible, and vehicle descriptions. Do not put yourself in danger to get this information.
5. Share information responsibly.
   Report through trusted channels. Avoid spreading unverified rumors publicly, since that can create panic for workers and customers.

Who To Contact

If you feel unsafe or believe a situation could escalate:

• Call 911.

If you need legal guidance or immediate support for workers:

• ICIRR Family Support Hotline: 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693)
• Indo-American Center and Arise Chicago
  These community partners provide support and training for small businesses and employees regarding rights, documentation,
  and next steps if immigration-related enforcement occurs.
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Family Support Network Hotline
  (855-435-7693)
  Report ICE sightings and arrests, seek help with immigration & other legal services. Spanish/English, 7am–9pm.
• National Lawyers Guild-Chicago (872-4NLG-CHI / 872-465-4244)
  Free lawyers to represent people arrested during protests or for political activity while in police custody or in court.
• GI Rights Hotline
  (877-447-4487) Legal support for military members and families.
• Cook County Public Defender’s Arrest Hotline
  (844-817-4448) Free lawyers to represent people in police custody in Chicago or any other city or town in Cook County. 24/7/365.
• Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline
  (877-863-6338) Hotline that provides crisis safety planning and referrals to emergency housing and support services to survivors of domestic violence in Illinois. Assistance available in 240 languages. Free, confidential and available 24/7/365.
• First Defense Legal Aid Help Not Jail Hotline
  (1-800-LAW-REP4 / 800-529-7374)
  Trauma-informed hotline to find civil rights counsel for police misconduct, report federal law enforcement activity, connect to stationhouse defense & get referrals to community & legal resources. English/Spanish, 24/7/365.
• Download Legal Support Hotline Info One Sheeter Here

City of Chicago resources:

The City of Chicago’s Protecting Chicago initiative provides immigrant and refugee resource information, legal referrals, Know Your Rights education, and guidance for businesses and workers.

View City of Chicago immigrant and worker protection resources

Local network / real-time alerts:

Lakeview East Safety Alerts GroupMe is available to business owners and managers in Lakeview East and Wrigleyville. This group is used to share credible safety updates with one another. Request access to the Lakeview East Business Owner Safety Alerts Group

Training and Education

Know Your Rights Training for Local Businesses

Earlier this year, we hosted a 40 minute Know Your Rights training for business owners and managers. This session walks through what happens if immigration enforcement comes to your workplace, how to protect your staff, what you are legally required to do, and what you are not required to do.

Watch the Know Your Rights training video

Upcoming in-person session

Know Your Rights for Local Businesses
Thursday, November 6
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park Rd
Free to attend

Register here

After this date, we will continue to post future training opportunities on this page. Business owners, managers,
and key staff are encouraged to attend.

Printable Signs For Your Workplace

Posting clear signage in non-public areas helps you set boundaries and helps your staff feel confident saying, “This is a private area.” We recommend placing signage on any door that leads to staff-only or back-of-house spaces, including kitchens, storage, walk-ins, offices, and behind the bar.

Download printable “Private Area / No Trespassing” sign (PDF)

Need this sign in Spanish, Polish, or another language for your team? Email us and we will help you get it.

Please Share This With Your Staff

Make sure your managers, shift leads, and anyone who opens or closes your business has this information. You’re welcome to print this page and keep it in a binder in the office, at the host stand, or behind the bar. If you would like a one page printable summary for internal use, email us and we can send it to you.

Disclaimer

This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different. If you have questions about your specific workplace or an active situation, please contact an attorney or call one of the support resources listed above.

Contact

Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce
info@lakevieweast.com
773-348-8608

If you are a business in Lakeview East or Wrigleyville and need help getting this information to your staff, or would like us to connect you with training, please reach out.