Know Your Rights: Cards You Can Print and Carry

Everyone in the United States has constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status. But in a stressful encounter with law enforcement or immigration agents, it can be hard to remember exactly what to say. That’s the idea behind Know Your Rights cards: small, printable cards you can keep in your wallet and hand to an officer if you need to.

What the Cards Say

The No Kings Know Your Rights cards are designed to be shown to any agent or officer. They assert your core constitutional rights clearly and calmly:

• You do not have to speak. You have the right to remain silent and decline to answer questions or sign documents.
• You do not have to consent to a search. Officers cannot search you, your vehicle, your belongings, or your home without your consent or a warrant.
• You can ask to see a warrant. If an agent claims to have one, ask them to show it. If you’re at home, ask them to slide it under the door.
• You can ask if you’re being detained. If not, you’re free to leave. If so, you have the right to speak with a lawyer. Ask for the officer’s name, agency, and badge number.

The cards are available in English and Spanish, with printable PDFs you can cut out at home or take to a print shop. The No Kings project recommends printing on yellow card stock so they stand out.

ILRC Red Cards

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center offers a similar tool called Red Cards, specifically designed for encounters with immigration agents. Over 10 million Red Cards have been distributed since November 2024, and they’re available in 56 languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hmong, Tagalog, Korean, French, and many more.

Red Cards are free to download and print. Nonprofits serving immigrant communities can also order physical cards at no cost.

Print and Share

These cards are only useful if people have them before they need them. Here are a few ways to help:

• Print a batch and hand them out at your next community event, house of worship, or neighborhood gathering.
• Leave some at local businesses, libraries, or community centers that welcome them.
• Share this post with friends, family, and neighbors so they know these resources exist.

Knowing your rights is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do. Print a few cards, put one in your wallet, and share the rest.