This week we released joint Flight Attendant resources with our APFA family on immigration rights. Flight Attendants are aviation’s first responders and last line of defense. We know security is essential and benefits us all. We will oppose any extreme, inhumane, or unlawful targeting of law-abiding immigrants. We will defend our members at every step.
The first and most important step is for every concerned Flight Attendant to know their rights.The AFL-CIO has put together a comprehensive Know Your Rights page and palm cards in multiple languages: aflcio.org/immigrationresources
You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your family, where you were born, immigration status, etc. You have the right to not sign any documents without an attorney, no matter what an agent says.Carry valid immigration documents with you. Do not carry a passport or papers from another country. Let law enforcement agents into your home ONLY if they have a proper warrant signed by a judge. Document the details of any interaction with law enforcement.
You can say:
- I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.
- I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights, unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.
- I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
- I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.
Our unions stand with you.
If you or a family member is detained by ICE, contact us immediately. Our unions will fight for every member who is wrongfully detained or who experiences stress or trauma as a result of unlawful or extreme actions.
In 2018, we stood with members who expressed a moral or ethical opposition to participating in family separation via deportation flights. We will support members who take action based on moral objection to facilitation of inhumane actions against people in our care.
AFA EAP is available at any time at 800-424-2406. You are not alone. In our union family, an injury to one is an injury to all.
