Georgia-based attorney Stephanie R. Lindsey, Esq., is urging immigrants and allies to know their rights amid rising fears over immigration enforcement tactics in the United States.
In a video recently shared on Instagram, Lindsey addressed what to do if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows up at your door—and made it clear:
“If they don’t have a warrant, you do not have to open it.”
While Lindsey explained that she is not an immigration attorney, her message resonated deeply in a time of heightened anxiety among immigrant communities. She cited increased inquiries to her personal phone from individuals fearful about deportation, adding that she routinely refers such calls to immigration attorney Zara Solano.
Supreme Court Decision Fuels Fear
Lindsey also responded to recent news about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold efforts by the current administration to revoke the legal status of over 500,000 immigrants—many of whom, she noted, came to the country lawfully and followed the proper procedures.
“They did it the right way,” Lindsey stated. “And you’re still trying to push them out.”
The decision has triggered concern, particularly among international students and mixed-status families. “We’re getting calls from kids that are worried, wondering what can be done,” she added.
Is This Really About Safety?
While acknowledging the need for national security, Lindsey challenged the underlying motives behind the intensified immigration push. She questioned whether the real intent was to target “all brown and Black folk” under the guise of immigration enforcement.
“If everybody had to leave this country whose parents or grandparents came here illegally and took over, there would only be one group of ethnic people here—and it wouldn’t be people that look like me,” she said.
A Clear Message: Know Your Rights
Lindsey’s core advice was straightforward and urgent: If ICE comes to your door without a court-issued warrant signed by a judge, do not open it.
This position aligns with constitutional protections afforded to all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status.
Organizations like the ACLU and National Immigration Law Center have long stressed the importance of asking to see a warrant and verifying whether it has been signed by a judge, rather than an ICE official.
