Immigration and Customs Enforcement at TESOL 2025

The City of Long Beach City Council affirms they are proud to support their diverse and vibrant immigrant communities and visitors to the city. In 2018, the City adopted the Long Beach Values Act and in 2025 the City Council voted to strengthen the Long Beach Values Act. Furthermore, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) affirms it is not an arm of the immigration authority and does not perform immigration duties. LBPD is dedicated to ensuring the safety of the entire community. LBPD policy generally prohibits the sharing of immigration related information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) obtained from individuals encountered during public safety or policing activities. Read the Long Beach Values Act Resource Guide for more information.

The convention center and hotel security departments are trained for what to do should ICE arrive at their facility and require valid paperwork before ICE officials may enter the property. TESOL is working with facility security personnel to ensure the safety and security of all TESOL 2025 attendees.

Attendees are encouraged to know their rights should they be approached by ICE agents while attending the TESOL convention. This information is provided as information only. Individuals should consult with an attorney for legal advice and representation, if needed. The Long Beach Values Act Resource Guide provides a list of local legal aid organizations.

Rights of Attendees

Immigration enforcement officials may approach attendees in public spaces without a warrant. In the TESOL-contracted meeting spaces and Expo Hall at Long Beach Convention Center, the Hyatt Regency Long Beach Hotel, the Marriott Long Beach Downtown Hotel, and the Westin Long Beach Hotel, law enforcement officials may approach attendees with a warrant verified by facility personnel. ICE agents must work with the facility and TESOL personnel before entering TESOL 2025 space.

Please keep the following information in mind if approached by an immigration official:

You have the right to remain silent

You have the right to remain silent or tell the agent that you’ll only answer questions in the presence of an attorney, no matter your citizenship or immigration status. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. You may simply say that you do not wish to answer those questions. Anything you say could be used against you in court, do not lie or provide false documents.

A limited exception does exist. People who do have permission to be in the U.S. for a specific reason and for, usually, a limited amount of time (a “nonimmigrant” on a visa, for example), the law does require you to provide information about your immigration status if asked. While you can still choose to remain silent or decline a request to produce your documents, people in this category should be aware that they could face arrest. If you want to know whether you fall into this category, you should consult an attorney.

An immigration officer cannot detain you without "reasonable suspicion"

Generally, an immigration officer cannot detain you without “reasonable suspicion.” An agent must have specific facts about you that make it reasonable to believe you are committing or committed, a violation of immigration law or federal law. If an agent detains you, you can ask for their basis for reasonable suspicion.

The term reasonable suspicion refers to a standard by which officials are judged to have authority to briefly detain a person. Reasonable suspicion is a less strict standard then probable cause.

An immigration officer cannot search without "probable cause" or consent

An immigration officer cannot search you or your belongings without either “probable cause” or your consent. If an agent asks you to search your belongings, you have the right to say no.

Probable cause is defined as a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed.

An immigration officer cannot arrest you without “probable cause.”

An immigration officer cannot arrest you without “probable cause.” That means the agent must have facts about you that make it probable that you are committing, or committed, a violation of immigration law or federal law.

Probable cause is defined as a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed.

Your silence alone meets neither of these standards

Your silence alone meets neither of these standards. Nor does your race or ethnicity alone suffice for either probable cause or reasonable suspicion.

Other important factors to keep in mind

If an agent asks you for documents, what you need to provide differs depending on your immigration status. U.S. citizens do not have to carry proof of citizenship on their person if they are in the United States. If you have valid immigration documents and are over the age of 18, the law does require you to carry those documents on you. If you are an immigrant without documents, you can decline the officer’s request.

People who have entered the U.S. without inspection by an immigration official may be subject to expedited removal from the U.S. Expedited removal is a summary deportation that bypasses an immigration judge. The federal government says that it will only attempt to apply expedited removal to individuals who have entered the United States without inspection in the last 14 days, have been encountered by an immigration officer within 100 miles of the border, and meet certain other criteria. If you are told that you are subject to expedited removal but do not fall within that category, you should let the agents know. Also, if you fear persecution if returned to your country of origin, you should immediately inform the agents of your fear.