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 More (PDF)TIRRC v. Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Jeff Long
This case challenges a new rule from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOS) that blocks many non-U.S. citizens from getting temporary driver’s licenses, even when they have authorization from the federal government to...
Last update: Oct 30, 2026
NILC and TIRRC Sue Tennessee Over Rule Denying Driver’s Licenses to Tennesseans with Legal Presence
Published Oct 30, 2026 The National Immigration Law Center and the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (“TIRRC”) filed a lawsuit today challenging a new rule from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOS) that blocks many non-U.S....
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Last update: Oct 30, 2026
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This lawsuit challenges the federal government’s new policy of hiding the locations of thousands of people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The policy unlawfully interferes with communication between detainees, their...
Last update: Oct 28, 2026