Response to 2025 Policy Changes

Information for community in advance of a travel ban

March 15, 2025

•⁠ ⁠⁠We are anticipating Federal policy that will impact travelers and immigrants from Muslim majority countries.
•⁠ ⁠CAIR-WA is in communication with State and Federal Officials to assure we have the most updated information for the community
•⁠ ⁠CAIR-WA is recommending to not travel during this time to avoid being impacted by the travel ban
•⁠ ⁠We expect this forthcoming travel ban guidance to include extra surveillance and scrutiny. We recommend scrubbing or deleting social media accounts.

Citizens are fine to travel but if you are Muslim, you should expect extra scrutiny and security checks at airports. Extra scrutiny may include looking at devices.

If you have to travel internationally

What to know

•⁠ ⁠CBP can access personal, confidential and sensitive data at the border
•⁠ ⁠Your rights are limited at the border
•⁠ ⁠You may be denied entry or boarding or your device may be confiscated if you refuse to provide access.

Recommendations – limit and protect personal data

•⁠ ⁠If you can, leave your phone and devices at home
•⁠ ⁠If you have to take your phone, delete or password protect sensitive apps and encrypt personal information
•⁠ ⁠Turn off devices during travel and at border crossings

Where to call:

Best Practices for Traveling with Electronics: Know Your Rights & Stay Protected
Before You Travel: Minimize Risk Travel light: If possible, leave your personal devices at home or use temporary “clean” devices with minimal data. Back up everything and remove sensitive content before your trip. Use full-disk encryption on all devices and set strong passwords (15+ characters). Turn off biometric login (face/fingerprint)—use a password only. Shut off your device before arriving at the border for maximum protection.
What Documents to Bring Domestic flights: REAL ID, passport, or other valid government-issued ID. International: Valid passport (check expiration!), visa, green card, I-94, I-20, and itinerary. Keep printed copies of your documents and emergency contact info.
At the Border: What Can They Do? CBP can search and copy your devices without a warrant. They may ask you to unlock your devices or share passwords. You are not required to comply—but refusal may lead to delays, device seizure, or denial of entry (for non-citizens). Deleting files is not enough—data can often be recovered. Do not lie or interfere. If you're pressured, ask if it's a request or an order, and state if you're complying “under protest.”
Questioning: What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Say Officials can ask basic travel questions. You do not have to answer questions about your religion, political beliefs, or associations. If you’re uncomfortable, say: “I’m not comfortable answering that.” You can ask to speak with a lawyer—have their number ready.
Religious Accommodations You have the right to wear religious head coverings. If asked to remove it, you may request a private area and a same-gender officer. You can refuse to let TSA touch your head covering and opt to pat it down yourself.
Device Privacy & Social Media Log out of apps, clear browser history, and uninstall unnecessary apps before travel. Consider changing privacy settings to limit visibility of your posts. Know that agents may ask for usernames—or even passwords—but you are not required to provide them.
After Your Trip: Take Action If Needed If you believe your rights were violated, document everything: names, badge numbers, dates, and what happened. You can file a complaint via DHS TRIP or consult legal help. Consider changing your passwords if you provided access to your accounts or devices.

CAIR-WA's Guidance on Executive Orders, Jan 22

Watch the video on YouTube

Links and Resources

Muslim Advocates’ Travel Advisory (March 2025)

Immigration KYR – Muslims for Just Futures

Know Your Rights with ICE – Immigrant Defense Project

Spread Information, Not Panic – Workers Defense Alliance

When ICE is Watching: Know Your Fight, Protect Your People

MJF KYR on Denaturalization

Ready to Stay Info Hub

KYR for Immigrants App

KYR Videos

Trump’s Executive Actions: Impact on Immigration Benefits and Processing

What To Do if Your Masjid Is Approached By ICE

Download as a printable PDF

What is ICE?
ICE refers to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ICE enforces immigration laws within the U.S. and engages in arrests, raids, detentions, deportations, and removal proceedings. ICE can work with other law enforcement agencies, including the police.
ICE’s actions are often intended to, and frequently do, create fear and concern within targeted immigrant communities.
Who is at risk for targeting by ICE?
  • Noncitizens without immigration status.
  • Noncitizens who have violated the terms of their immigration status.
  • Generally, ICE prioritizes people:
    • With certain types of criminal convictions,
    • With prior orders of deportation, or
    • Who are believed to be a threat to national security.
What are my rights as an individual in ICE interactions?
  • Remain silent: you do not have to answer questions about your immigration status.
  • Speak to a lawyer: you should not sign anything without a lawyer.
  • Request a phone call: contact your consulate if you are a foreign national.
What should we do if ICE shows up at our masjid?
ICE does not have the right to enter a private space like a masjid or home without a warrant. ICE needs either a judicial warrant or consent to enter into private spaces like a masjid.
If ICE shows up to the masjid, you should not allow them entry and ask them to show a judicial warrant. You should also refuse to answer any questions.
ICE agents may try to argue that certain spaces of the masjid are open to the public and thus no warrant is required. Masjids should consider putting up clearly delineated signs that the entire masjid is private property.
If ICE agents show up, consider using these words: “I do not give you permission to enter my masjid and I do not wish to speak to you. I do not give you permission to be at my masjid. Please leave.”
Masjids should designate one or two authorized individuals to deal with any ICE officers who show up.
What should I be on the lookout for if ICE shows up to my masjid?
Be wary of ICE agents using tricks, lies, and/or intimidation to get consent to enter a masjid.
ICE almost never has a judicial warrant. Be aware that ICE may try to use internal US Department of Homeland Security documents titled “Warrant” as proof of a warrant. This is not a judicial warrant and does not grant them access. Judicial warrants should have a judge’s signature and be issued from a courthouse. Only a judicial warrants from a court house requires you to allow ICE agents to enter into the masjid.
What should I do if ICE has a valid judicial warrant?
If ICE does have a signed judicial warrant to enter and inspect the premises, first, make sure to ask the agents to provide identification.
Second, ask to review the warrant. The warrant will list where officers are allowed to search and what can be seized.
Third, arrange for someone from the masjid to accompany the ICE inspector at all times while on the premises to ensure they are abiding by the parameters of the warrant. You have the right to document and record interactions with ICE agents.
I’ve heard that President Trump said ICE can arrest people at places of worship and schools what does this mean?
On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded a prior policy that protected sensitive areas such as places of worship, schools, and hospitals from immigration enforcement.
The recission of this policy is intended to make immigrant communities feel less safe in these spaces and allows for arrests and detentions in these spaces. However, even with the recission, ICE agents can still only enter a masjid or other private sensitive spaces with a valid judicial warrant or with consent. You should not willingly give consent to ICE agents to enter and only allow them onto the premises with a valid judicial warrant.