In recent months, Texas It became one of the countries with Increased number of raids and arrests of immigrants By US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Icefor its abbreviation in English). In this scenario, a simple phrase in Spanish can make the difference between deportation and maintaining the possibility of staying in the country: “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”
This expression – which is translated in English as “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”– this Protected by the Fifth Amendment to the United States ConstitutionWhich guarantees the right of every person, regardless of their immigration status, Don’t incriminate yourself.
Legal defense organizations such as the Houston Immigrant Defense Project and the Texas Immigration Rights Center insist on this It is not necessary to speak English to exercise constitutional rights. The law protects all residents, regardless of language.
According to experts, there are phrases that should be completely avoided because they can be used as a guide to starting deportation procedures. among them: “I don’t have papers”, “I’m just visiting” or “I don’t know why they’re stopping me”.
Lawyers’ advice is not to volunteer information and to repeat calmly: “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”
In cities like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, where operations have intensified in recent months, lawyers recommend staying calm and following these basic guidelines:
If an immigrant has any of these documents, they can present them to the authorities to prove their immigration status:
And in Texas, where ICE raids raise concerns among Latino communities, the phrase “I am exercising my right to remain silent.” It is an essential legal shield. Knowing and using these seven words correctly could mean the difference between staying in the country or facing deportation proceedings.
This content was produced by the LA NACION team with the help of artificial intelligence.
About The Author
