Police & Everyday Law
3guides
Constitutional rights apply to everyone on US soil — citizens and noncitizens alike.
Stopped by the police — what you must do and what you may refuseConstitutional protections apply to everyone physically in the US, whatever their status. The two you'll actually use: the right to remain silent and the right to refuse a search.
What ID the law requires you to carryUS law requires noncitizens aged 18+ to carry their immigration documents. In practice that means carrying proof of status — while keeping the originals you can't afford to lose somewhere safe.
Arrested in the US — the rights that kick in immediatelyAn arrest is not a conviction. You have the right to a lawyer — a free public defender if you can't pay — and as a foreign national, the right to have your consulate notified.