Navigating Law Enforcement Encounters in the United States

In an era of heightened policing, immigration enforcement, and systemic inequality, understanding your rights is not just important—it’s essential. Know Your Rights: Navigating Law Enforcement Encounters in the United States is a comprehensive course designed to empower individuals—both U.S. citizens and undocumented immigrants—with the legal knowledge and practical tools needed to safely and confidently navigate interactions with law enforcement, including local police, federal agents, and ICE.

Grounded in constitutional, civil, and human rights law, this course unpacks what officers can and cannot do during stops, questioning, searches, and arrests. Participants will learn how to assert their rights, avoid common legal traps, and protect themselves and others in high-pressure situations. From the legality of recording police to ICE raids at home and work, this course offers real-world scenarios, myth-busting facts (such as the legality of police deception), and practical advice on staying safe and protected under the law.

Whether you are an individual seeking to protect yourself, a parent preparing your child, or a community organizer building collective power, this course is an essential guide to surviving—and resisting—systems of control.

What You’ll Learn:

• The constitutional rights that apply during law enforcement encounters
• The difference between detainment, arrest, and voluntary interaction
• How and when to remain silent, and why it matters
• The tactics law enforcement uses—including legal deception—to obtain information
• What to do during traffic stops, public detentions, home visits, and interrogations
• Legal protections and strategies for undocumented immigrants, including how to respond to ICE
• How to document police abuse, protect others, and organize your community

Who This Course Is For:

• U.S. Citizens and undocumented immigrants
• High school and college students
• Immigrant communities and sanctuary organizers
• Activists, civil rights advocates, and educators
• Anyone seeking legal literacy and personal safety in encounters with law enforcement