Warrants & Subpoenas: What to Look Out for and How to Respond

This factsheet clarifies immigration enforcement and subpoena powers and what to do in response to receiving an immigration warrant or subpoena.

Published Jan 28, 2025

Understanding the differences between a subpoena and a warrant — documents that immigration agencies rely on as part of their tactics to coerce cooperation — is critical and enables people to exercise their rights in an informed manner.

This factsheet provides community members and advocates clarification on:

  • immigration enforcement power and immigration subpoena power
  • how to distinguish between judicial warrants and subpoenas and their administrative immigration counterparts
  • what to do in response to receiving an immigration warrant or immigration subpoena

This factsheet also includes a case study about Liberty High School in New York City, highlighting how schools, advocates, and lawyers can intervene to block immigration subpoenas and keep immigrant communities safe.

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