Digital Safety & ICE

Last Updated: April 14, 2026

~10 minute read

The Advocacy Institute recognizes the current hostile environment our communities are facing and has put together notable considerations on digital safety and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This includes protecting your personal information, precautions when sharing online, knowing where to find help and legal resources, and understanding your rights around digital privacy.

Protecting your personal information

What is personal information?

Personal information online is anything that identifies you or your family. Examples include:

- - Full name
  - Date of birth
  - Home address or places you frequent
  - Immigration status
  - Phone number, email
  - Photos of yourself or family
  - School, work, or anything related to your schedule

How does personal information get shared?

- - Online forms and sign-ups
  - Social media
  - Messaging apps
  - Email
  - Photos and videos

How can this information be used against me?

Your information can be used to:

- - Track your location or routine
  - Build a profile about you or your family
  - Connect you to workplaces, schools, or addresses
  - Identify loved ones or community members
  - Support enforcement actions or investigations

How can I protect myself?

- - Share only what’s necessary
  - Use strong and unique passwords
  - Be cautious of links or request of specific information
  - Log out of shared or public devices
  - Turn off live location sharing unless absolutely necessary
  - Review app permissions (camera, microphone, location, contacts)

For example, if you’re out for brunch, do not post your location while you’re still there. Wait until you leave. Posting in real time can reveal your exact whereabouts.

Once you share something online, it can be hard to control who sees it or how it’s used.

Public vs Private

- - Public posts can be seen, shared, or saved by others
  - Even if messages are private, they can still be screenshot or forwarded

Photos, videos, location

- - Location tags and check-ins show where you are
  - Photos can reveal faces, locations, and even routines
  - Background details matter (e.g., signs, license plates, and buildings)

Geolocation data (location information attached to photos or posts) shows where you love, work, worship, or spend time. Even background details in photos reveal more than you intend.

Common places to turn off location tagging include:

- - Phone camera settings
  - App location permissions
  - Social media privacy settings

(Search your device settings for “Location Services” and review which apps have access)

Tagging and mentions

- - Being tagged in pictures or posts connects your name to your profile/content
  - Others may share unintended information about you

Simple reminders and habits

- - Pause before posting
  - Avoid posting legal updates publicly while cases are pending
  - Ask before sharing photos of others
  - Review privacy settings

Authorities can review social media activity during pending immigration status changes or applications. It’s important to limit how you share your personal information, as once information spreads, you won’t fully control how it’s used. Inform yourself and stay safe!

Know where to find help and legal resources

Its important to know which organizations are trustworthy and how to reach them

Trusted types of support

- - Immigration legal aid organizations
  - Community based groups
  - Worker and tenant rights organizations
  - Digital privacy advocacy groups

How to spot trustworthy resources?

- - Clear contact information
  - Transparent mission
  - No promises of guaranteed outcomes
  - No pressure for payment or personal information

When to ask for help?

Reach out if you:

- - Receive a denied application or are told to “self-deport”
  - Have a deportation order
  - Receive legal documents
  - Get contacted by authorities
  - Are unsure about your rights
  - Are asked to sign documents you do not understand
  - Or a loved one is detained

If a loved one is detained, contact trusted legal organizations immediately. Do not rely on advice from strangers online.

Additional organizations

When in custody, know your rights

- - Do not sign documents you do not understand
  - You have the right to speak to an attorney
  - You have the right to remain silent
  - Ask for interpretation if needed

You may hear about something called “habeas corpus,” a legal right that allows someone to challenge unlawful detention in court. Authorities may pressure people to waive certain rights and sometimes impose harsh conditions to coerce them into giving up legal protections. It’s important not to waive rights without speaking to a lawyer.

Understand your rights around digital privacy

Digital privacy rights help protect how your personal information is collected, used, and shared. These rights will vary depending on where you live.

You have the right to know how your information is used

- - Many websites and apps must explain what data they collect. You usually see this information in privacy policies, cookie notices, or banners at the top or bottom of the page when you first visit.
  - Privacy policies describe how your information is stored and shared
  - You can choose not to use services whose policies you don’t agree with and opt out of cookies in some instances

You have the right to limit what you share

- - You can decide what information to provide on profiles or forms
  - Optional fields are usually not required
  - You can turn off certain permissions, e.g., location services

You may have the right to access or delete your data

- - Some laws allow people to request copies of their data
  - Some laws allow people to request that data be corrected or deleted
  - These rights will all depend on your location and the company involved

Some platforms may be required to share user data in response to a subpoena or legal request. If subpoenaed, certain account information or metadata may be shared, depending on the request. Because Signal collects very limited user data and uses end-to-end encryption by default, some people choose it as a more privacy-focused alternative. No app guarantees complete safety. Your digital habits matter most.

Additional resources