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.
Read MoreCommunity Alert: Immigration Arrests at Airports
Updated Jul 29, 2026 This resource provides travel safety tips and other resources for immigrants traveling through U.S. airports.
CHIRLA v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
This lawsuit challenges a rule by the Trump administration, which requires millions of people to register with the federal government and carry proof of their registration with them at all times, or risk federal criminal...
Last update: Jul 27, 2026
NILC v. ICE
This FOIA lawsuit challenges ICE's failure to produce records related to the administration's alarming increase in unlawful removals of people with pending immigration cases, stays of deportation, and court ordered...
Last update: Jul 15, 2026
How States Are Fighting Back Against Trump’s Mass Deportation Machine
Published Jul 9, 2026 This report captures pro-immigrant state laws enacted in 2025 and bills signed in the first five months of 2026 to address immigration enforcement.