Nonprofits launch ‘know your rights’ campaigns amid immigration misinformation

Feb. 5, 2025, 6 a.m. ·

Immigration misinformation
Immigration policy is considered to be complex even by the experts, so misinformation can easily spread through communities. That can be harmful, according to some agencies. (Photo by Metin Ozer/Unsplash)

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Nonprofits around the state are attempting to combat misinformation surrounding immigration enforcement in Nebraska. Some are sharing know your rights information for everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Unity in Action in South Sioux City has partnered with the community to share ‘Know Your Rights’ cards and is hosting virtual information sessions. The Multicultural Coalition in Grand Island has hosted presentations with the same theme.

The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA), urges people to verify information is accurate before sharing. CIRA’s director of communications, Sophia Ibrahimi, said her communication strategy has evolved with the new administration’s policies.

“For the community who's experiencing fear and experiencing a heightened anxiety from the news, from the strategies that this administration is using, we just really feel like the best way to combat that is through empowering individuals with correct information,” she said.

Even though immigration enforcement is increasing, CIRA’s legal staff wants to remind individuals constitutional rights still stand, like requiring a warrant before allowing law enforcement in your home.

“We are experiencing a lot of chaos and lack of stability,” said Roxana Cortes-Mills, the associate legal director at CIRA. "We've had a lot of executive orders… And we know what the orders say, but we don't fully understand how it's going to be carried out."

Cortes-Mills added in times like these, it’s especially important for people to understand their constitutional rights, as those don’t change regardless of the presidential administration.

“That is a conversation that we haven’t been having in the last couple of years,” she said. “So we are bringing back up that information to people's minds, so people can be aware of their rights as they're facing encounters with immigration or seeing rumors about immigration presence in their communities.”