The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN General Assembly, 1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, 1966) set out economic and social rights alongside civil ones. The US signed the ICESCR in 1977 but has not ratified it, so these rights are generally not enforceable in US courts. Many are partly met in US law through specific programs, listed below.

UDHR Art. 25 lists food as part of an adequate standard of living. In US law, SNAP and WIC are statutory benefits with application and appeal rights; food banks and community fridges are catalogued in the Affordability Archive.

The UN General Assembly recognized the human right to water and sanitation in Resolution 64/292 (2010). In the US, shutoff rules are set by states and utilities; LIHEAP and local ratepayer-assistance programs can help with bills.

UDHR Art. 25 lists housing. In US law, eviction is a court process with notice and hearing requirements in every state; see the Tenant Rights scenario below and legal-aid eviction defense in the Affordability Archive.

UDHR Art. 25 and ICESCR Art. 12. In US law: Medicaid/CHIP eligibility rules, emergency screening and stabilization under EMTALA (42 U.S.C. § 1395dd), and the financial-assistance policies nonprofit hospitals must maintain under Internal Revenue Code § 501(r), which can reduce or eliminate a bill for eligible patients.

UDHR Art. 23 includes the right to form and join trade unions. In US law, most private-sector employees are protected when organizing under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act; see the Workplace scenario.

UDHR Art. 26 provides for free elementary education. In US law, every state guarantees free public K–12 education, and Plyler v. Doe (1982) bars public schools from denying enrollment based on immigration status.

UDHR Arts. 22, 24 and 25. In US law: unemployment insurance, Social Security, SSI/SSDI and TANF each carry written-notice and appeal rights when benefits are denied or cut.

The First Amendment protects peaceful assembly and speech in traditional public forums such as streets, sidewalks and parks. Governments may impose content-neutral time, place and manner rules but may not restrict speech because of its viewpoint. According to the ACLU, a permit is generally not required to march on sidewalks if marchers do not obstruct traffic; large marches in streets, amplified sound and some park events often require one, and rules vary by city.

Every federal court of appeals to decide the question has recognized a First Amendment right to record police performing their duties in public (for example Glik v. Cunniffe, 1st Cir. 2011; Fields v. City of Philadelphia, 3d Cir. 2017). Some states have passed “buffer” laws limiting how close you may stand; see the Recording Police (Nationwide) scenario. Officers generally need a warrant to search or seize your phone’s contents (Riley v. California, 2014).

Complying with a dispersal order and challenging it later is lower risk than contesting it on the street. You can say: “I am leaving. I do not consent to any search.” Note badge numbers and the time of any order.

The National Lawyers Guild recommends writing a legal support number on your skin in marker in case your phone is taken. NLG San Francisco Bay Area demonstrations hotline: (510) 250-1700. NLG New York City Mass Defense Committee: 212-679-6018. Other areas: find the local chapter at nlg.org.

You are not required to open the door to immigration agents. Ask them to show any warrant through a window or slide it under the door. A judicial warrant is signed by a judge and names the address to be searched; an ICE administrative warrant (Form I-200 or I-205) is signed by an immigration officer.

A May 12, 2025 ICE memorandum, reported in January 2026, states that officers may forcibly enter a home on an I-205 administrative warrant to arrest a person with a final removal order. On January 17, 2026, a federal judge in Minnesota found one such entry violated the Fourth Amendment. The policy is being challenged in Greater Boston Latino Network v. Noem (D. Mass.); according to the Immigration Policy Tracking Project, DHS paused the practice in May 2026 without rescinding the memo. If agents enter, do not physically resist; say you do not consent and note what happens.

You can say: “I am exercising my right to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer.” Do not lie and do not present false documents. Noncitizens 18 and older who have been issued registration documents are required by 8 U.S.C. § 1304(e) to carry them; see the Registration scenario. In Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo (Sept. 2025) the Supreme Court stayed a lower-court order that had limited roving immigration stops in the Los Angeles area; the stay did not decide the underlying Fourth Amendment claims.

On January 21, 2025, DHS rescinded the prior policy that generally limited enforcement at “sensitive locations” such as schools, places of worship and hospitals. Fourth Amendment limits on entering private, non-public areas without a judicial warrant or consent still apply.

Rapid-response networks in many cities document enforcement activity and connect people with lawyers. RAICES, the ACLU, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and local immigrant-rights groups publish know-your-rights cards in multiple languages.

“I am going to remain silent. I want a lawyer.” Say it clearly and repeat it calmly. Do not explain, argue, or sign statements. Under Miranda v. Arizona (1966) and Edwards v. Arizona (1981), custodial questioning must stop once you clearly ask for a lawyer.

Silence after you are in custody and have been read your rights generally cannot be used against you at trial (Doyle v. Ohio, 1976). Silence before arrest, without saying you are invoking the right, can be (Salinas v. Texas, 2013). This is why the invocation should be said out loud.

The National Lawyers Guild’s Mass Defense Program coordinates legal support for mass arrests and advises arrestees to give only identifying information required by law and to contact the legal support number.

Calls from jail other than to your attorney are usually recorded. Avoid discussing the facts of your case on them.

Standard SMS and most social-media direct messages are not end-to-end encrypted. Signal is end-to-end encrypted by default and supports disappearing messages.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) recommends disabling fingerprint and face unlock before a protest and using a passcode. Federal courts are split: the Ninth Circuit held in United States v. Payne (2024) that compelling a thumbprint unlock was not testimonial, while the D.C. Circuit held in United States v. Brown (2025) that it was on those facts. Compelled disclosure of a passcode receives stronger Fifth Amendment protection in most courts. EFF also advises that cell-site simulators may be used at large demonstrations.

Police generally need a warrant to search a phone seized during an arrest (Riley v. California, 2014) and to obtain historical cell-site location records from a carrier (Carpenter v. United States, 2018).

You are not required to answer FBI questions. You can say: “I will not answer questions without a lawyer. Please contact my attorney.” A grand jury subpoena is different: it is a court order; see the FBI Visits scenario.

The First Amendment protects political speech from government restriction regardless of viewpoint, including advocacy on Israel and Palestine. It does not protect true threats, incitement to imminent lawless action, or targeted harassment. It restricts government actors, not private employers or private universities. Palestine Legal, FIRE and the ACLU each publish guidance for students and organizers.

Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act protects most private-sector employees who act together to address wages, safety or working conditions, whether or not a union exists. It does not cover supervisors, independent contractors, agricultural or domestic workers in some cases, or government employees, and it generally does not protect political speech unrelated to working conditions.

For students and workers on visas, see the Visa Holders & Political Speech scenario.

Pull over safely, turn on the interior light if it is dark, and keep your hands visible. Officers may order drivers and passengers out of the car (Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 1977; Maryland v. Wilson, 1997). Drivers must show license, registration and proof of insurance when asked; passengers generally need not answer questions unless state law requires identification.

Without a warrant, police may search a car with your consent, with probable cause (the “automobile exception”), or in limited situations after an arrest (Arizona v. Gant, 2009). You can say: “I do not consent to a search of this vehicle.” Do not physically resist a search.

Police may not extend a completed traffic stop to wait for a drug-sniffing dog without reasonable suspicion (Rodriguez v. United States, 2015). You can ask: “Am I free to leave?” If told to wait, do not resist, and note the time.

HIPAA permits doctors, hospitals and insurers to disclose health information to law enforcement in specified situations, including in response to a court order, a court-ordered warrant, a subpoena or certain administrative requests (45 C.F.R. § 164.512(f)). A 2024 HHS rule that added protections for reproductive health information was vacated nationwide in Purl v. HHS (N.D. Tex., June 18, 2025), and the appeals were dropped. Protection now depends largely on state law: a number of states have “shield” laws limiting cooperation with out-of-state investigations of care that is legal where it was provided.

HIPAA does not cover most period-tracking, fitness or search apps, whose data can be obtained with legal process. Options include reviewing an app’s privacy policy, deleting stored data, turning off location history, and using a private browser or VPN when researching care.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may search electronic devices at ports of entry without a warrant. Under CBP Directive 3340-049B (January 2026), a “basic” search (an officer looking through the device) needs no suspicion, while an “advanced” search (copying or analyzing data with external equipment) requires reasonable suspicion or a national-security concern and supervisory approval. CBP states it will not intentionally access data stored only in the cloud. Federal courts are divided on whether forensic searches need more (compare Alasaad v. Mayorkas, 1st Cir. 2021, with United States v. Cano, 9th Cir. 2019).

EFF suggests deciding before travel what data you need on the device, backing up and removing sensitive material, or using a separate travel device.

US citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing to unlock a device, but the device may be detained and the traveler delayed. Lawful permanent residents generally cannot be denied entry on that basis either but may face additional questioning. Visitors on visas can be refused entry. Know your status before deciding.

Employers are generally permitted to monitor company-owned devices, accounts and networks, subject to some state notice laws (for example New York Civil Rights Law § 52-c, Connecticut and Delaware). Many organizing guides recommend using personal devices and personal accounts, off the clock, for organizing.

Most private-sector employees have the right to act together with coworkers to improve wages, conditions and safety. The NLRA makes it an unfair labor practice to fire, discipline, threaten or surveil employees because of that activity (29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), (3)). Charges generally must be filed with the NLRB within six months.

Most states require landlords to give advance notice before entering except in emergencies; 24 hours is common (for example California Civil Code § 1954). A few states have no statute, and the lease then controls. The Fourth Amendment limits police, not private landlords.

In nearly every state a landlord may not remove a tenant by changing the locks, removing doors or belongings, or shutting off utilities. Eviction requires a court judgment, and removal is carried out by a sheriff or marshal. If locked out without a court order, you can call local law enforcement and contact legal aid.

Federal law prohibits taking a personnel action against a covered employee for refusing to obey an order that would require violating a law, rule or regulation (5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(D), added by the Follow the Rules Act of 2017). Disclosures of illegality, gross mismanagement or substantial dangers to public safety are protected under § 2302(b)(8). Complaints of retaliation go to the Office of Special Counsel.

Ask for questionable directives in writing. Keep personal notes off government systems, without removing government records or classified information. Consult a union representative or a federal employment lawyer.

Whistleblower laws are specific to sectors. Federal employees are covered by the Whistleblower Protection Act. Employees of public companies are covered by Sarbanes-Oxley (18 U.S.C. § 1514A) and the SEC whistleblower program; OSHA administers retaliation complaints under more than 20 federal statutes, many with short filing deadlines (some as short as 30 days).

For federal employees, the WPA protects disclosures to anyone, including the media, unless the information is classified or its release is barred by law. Sarbanes-Oxley protects reports to federal agencies, Congress and supervisors; courts have held it does not protect disclosures to the media (Tides v. Boeing, 9th Cir. 2011). Consulting a whistleblower attorney before reporting helps identify the protected channel.

California Penal Code § 148(g) provides that photographing or recording a public officer in a public place, or from a place where the person has a right to be, is not by itself obstruction and is not reasonable suspicion to detain or probable cause to arrest. Penal Code § 409.7 (2021) protects credentialed journalists at protest closures. California’s two-party consent law (Penal Code § 632) applies to confidential conversations and generally not to officers performing duties in public.

Keep a reasonable distance and follow lawful orders to step back. Do not cross police tape, and do not unlock your phone for officers without a warrant. Officers may not delete footage without a warrant.

You are not required to answer questions from FBI agents and do not have to let them in without a warrant. You can step outside and close the door, or speak through it, and say: “I will not answer questions without a lawyer. Please contact my attorney.” The NLG San Francisco chapter runs a Federal Defense Hotline for people contacted by federal agents: (415) 285-1041.

Making a materially false statement to a federal agent is a felony (18 U.S.C. § 1001), even when not under oath. Declining to speak is not a crime.

A grand jury subpoena is a court order to appear. You keep your Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, but a witness who refuses to testify without a valid privilege, or after receiving immunity, can be jailed for civil contempt for the life of the grand jury, up to 18 months (28 U.S.C. § 1826). The National Lawyers Guild states that grand juries have been used to investigate political movements and recommends contacting a lawyer immediately on receiving a subpoena.

Courts have upheld random, suspicionless bag checks on transit when riders may decline and leave (MacWade v. Kelly, 2d Cir. 2006). You can refuse a bag search, but you can then be denied entry to the system or venue. Private venues can set their own entry conditions.

TSA screening is an administrative search limited to transportation security. TSA may inspect electronics physically and may refuse entry to the secure area if you decline screening. Referral to police for non-security matters is governed by ordinary Fourth Amendment rules.

Your right to remain silent applies in medical settings. You can say: “I am receiving medical treatment and will not answer questions without a lawyer.” Hospitals may share limited information with police in the situations listed in 45 C.F.R. § 164.512(f).

A warrantless blood test after an arrest for impaired driving is generally not allowed as a search incident to arrest (Birchfield v. North Dakota, 2016), and the natural dissipation of alcohol does not by itself justify skipping a warrant (Missouri v. McNeely, 2013). When a driver is unconscious, a warrantless draw is almost always permitted (Mitchell v. Wisconsin, 2019, plurality). You can say: “I do not consent to any non-medical procedure.” State implied-consent laws may impose license penalties for refusing a breath test.

Public school students keep their First Amendment rights at school. Schools may restrict expression that would substantially disrupt school activities. Schools have less authority over off-campus speech (Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., 2021).

Public universities are government actors bound by the First Amendment: they may set content-neutral time, place and manner rules but may not restrict speech by viewpoint. Private universities are generally governed by their own policies and contracts; California’s Leonard Law (Education Code § 94367) extends First Amendment standards to most private secular colleges in that state.

Public school officials need only reasonable suspicion to search a student’s belongings (New Jersey v. T.L.O., 1985). When police search on their own initiative, probable cause or a warrant is generally required; courts differ on searches by school resource officers. You can state that you do not consent.

Civil forfeiture is a proceeding against property, not a person, so property can be taken without a criminal conviction. In federal cases, the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 puts the burden on the government to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the property is subject to forfeiture (18 U.S.C. § 983(c)); owners may raise an “innocent owner” defense. There is generally no right to appointed counsel unless the property is a primary residence or the owner is also a criminal defendant with appointed counsel. State rules vary widely; several states have abolished civil forfeiture or require a conviction.

Deadlines are short. In federal administrative forfeiture, a claim is due by the date in the notice letter (at least 35 days after it is mailed). In Culley v. Marshall (2024) the Supreme Court held that due process requires a timely forfeiture hearing but not a separate preliminary hearing.

Ask for a written, itemized property receipt listing amounts and the seizing officers or agency. Keep it; it is the starting point for any claim.

Federal law allows immigration officers to board vehicles without a warrant within a “reasonable distance” of the border (8 U.S.C. § 1357(a)(3)), which regulations define as 100 air miles (8 C.F.R. § 287.1). According to the ACLU, roughly two-thirds of the US population lives in this zone, and several states lie entirely or almost entirely within it, including Florida, Michigan, Maine and New Jersey.

Constitutional rights apply inside the zone. At fixed interior checkpoints agents may briefly stop vehicles and ask about citizenship without suspicion (United States v. Martinez-Fuerte, 1976), but searching the vehicle requires consent or probable cause (United States v. Ortiz, 1975). Roving-patrol stops require reasonable suspicion (United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, 1975). You can remain silent and ask: “Am I being detained, or am I free to go?”

Courts have held that arresting protesters for failing to disperse without fair warning and a reasonable opportunity to leave can violate the Constitution (for example Barham v. Ramsey, D.C. Cir. 2006; Vodak v. City of Chicago, 7th Cir. 2011). Many police departments’ policies require audible, repeated orders and an identified exit route. If no route is given, record the time and what was said.

Encircling a crowd before arrests (“kettling”) has been the subject of settlements, including New York City’s 2023 settlement in Sow v. City of New York over 2020 protest arrests. If encircled, stay calm, record the blocked exits if safe, keep the legal support number written on your arm, and do not push against police lines. Contact the NLG legal support line after release.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. § 227) lets individuals sue over certain unwanted calls and texts, including prerecorded or autodialed calls to cell phones without consent, and telemarketing calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry (two or more calls in 12 months). Statutory damages are $500 per violation, up to $1,500 if willful or knowing. State courts, including small claims courts, can hear these claims (Mims v. Arrow Financial Services, 2012). Courts generally treat an unwanted call or text as a concrete injury for standing.

In McLaughlin Chiropractic v. McKesson (June 2025) the Supreme Court held that district courts are not bound by the FCC’s interpretations of the TCPA. Some courts have since questioned whether texts count as “calls” for Do Not Call claims, and the Eleventh Circuit vacated the FCC’s “one-to-one consent” rule in January 2025. Outcomes may differ by court.

Register your number at donotcall.gov. Keep the call log with date, time and number; screenshots of texts including the sender number; and voicemail audio saved off the phone.

Liability can reach the business a call was made on behalf of, not only the dialer. The company’s registered agent for service is listed in your state’s business registry.

Complaints to the FCC and FTC build a public record but do not produce payment. A written demand letter citing the specific violations sometimes leads to settlement. The federal four-year catch-all limitations period (28 U.S.C. § 1658) generally applies.

If you dispute a debt in writing within the validation period, a third-party debt collector must stop collection until it mails you verification of the debt (15 U.S.C. § 1692g(b)). A 2013 Federal Trade Commission study of the debt-buying industry found that buyers often received little documentation about the accounts they purchased.

A collector must send validation information within five days of its first communication (§ 1692g(a)). Under the CFPB’s Regulation F, the dispute period runs at least 30 days from when you receive it. Oral disputes still require the collector to report the debt as disputed, but only a written dispute triggers the verification requirement.

You can dispute at any time; a late dispute does not trigger the automatic pause but can still matter if you have a defense. Include supporting evidence such as cancelled checks or an identity-theft report.

The FDCPA regulates how third-party collectors act whether or not the debt is owed: no calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. without consent, no harassment or obscene language, no false threats, no unauthorized fees, and no postcards. Suits under the FDCPA must be filed within one year of the violation (§ 1692k(d)).

The Debt Collective, a debtors’ union, publishes free dispute tools and runs campaigns for debt cancellation.

In most states, voters who are in line when polls close are allowed to vote. Stay in line. The next federal general election is November 3, 2026.

If your name is missing from the rolls or your eligibility is questioned, the Help America Vote Act entitles you to cast a provisional ballot in a federal election (52 U.S.C. § 21082). Ask how to check whether it was counted.

Intimidating, threatening or coercing voters is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. § 594; 52 U.S.C. § 10307), and federal law bars bringing troops or armed federal agents to a polling place except to repel armed enemies (18 U.S.C. §§ 592–593). State laws set distances within which electioneering is prohibited.

The nonpartisan Election Protection hotline (866-OUR-VOTE, 866-687-8683) is run by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Problems can also be reported to your state or local election office and to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

National Guard troops under a governor’s control act under state law. When federalized, they are subject to federal limits. The Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. § 1385) generally bars federal armed forces from civilian law enforcement unless Congress has authorized it, most notably through the Insurrection Act.

In Newsom v. Trump, a federal district court found after trial (September 2, 2025) that the Los Angeles deployment violated the Posse Comitatus Act; the deployment ended December 31, 2025. In Trump v. Illinois (December 23, 2025) the Supreme Court declined, 6–3, to allow a Guard deployment to Chicago, finding the government was unlikely to show authority under 10 U.S.C. § 12406.

First Amendment protections are the same whether police or troops are present. You can ask a service member for their unit and whether they are federal or state; you can record in public. Follow lawful orders to move, and report misconduct to your state attorney general, the ACLU or the NLG.

Since April 11, 2025, a DHS rule requires noncitizens 14 and older who have not otherwise registered (for example, people who entered without inspection) to register with USCIS using Form G-325R, and requires registration within 30 days of turning 14 for those already registered as children. Most visa holders, green-card holders and people with work permits are already registered by those documents.

Noncitizens 18 and older must carry evidence of registration they have been issued (8 U.S.C. § 1304(e)); violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine and up to 30 days in jail. Willful failure to register can carry up to six months (§ 1306).

Immigrant-rights groups including the National Immigration Law Center have raised concerns that registering can expose people to enforcement. Speak with an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative before filing; never submit false information.

In AAUP v. Rubio, a federal judge in Massachusetts found (September 30, 2025) that the government pursued a policy of arresting and seeking to deport noncitizen students and faculty for pro-Palestinian speech, in violation of the First Amendment, and set the policy aside in January 2026. Part of the remedy was stayed, and the case is on appeal in the First Circuit.

Since June 2025, the State Department has required F, M and J visa applicants to set social-media accounts to public for review of their online presence. Visa decisions abroad receive limited court review.

Carry contact information for an immigration attorney and your school’s international student office. You can decline to answer questions about your political views or associations and ask for a lawyer. Do not sign documents, including voluntary departure forms, without legal advice.

Agents may enter areas open to the public. Entering private areas (back offices, production floors) requires a judicial warrant or the employer’s consent; an administrative warrant does not authorize entry into non-public areas, according to the National Immigration Law Center.

You can remain silent, decline to say where you were born or show foreign documents, and ask to speak to a lawyer. Do not run, lie, or present false papers. Do not sign anything you do not understand, particularly documents in a language you do not read.

Since January 2025, DHS has applied expedited removal (deportation without a hearing before a judge) nationwide to people who cannot show two years of continuous US presence. A district court blocked the expansion in August 2025; in June 2026 a divided D.C. Circuit panel allowed it to proceed (Make the Road New York v. Mullin). Carrying proof of how long you have been in the country can matter.

Minimum wage, overtime and NLRA protections apply regardless of immigration status, although remedies such as back pay can be limited for undocumented workers (Hoffman Plastic Compounds v. NLRB, 2002).

Every federal court of appeals to decide the issue recognizes a First Amendment right to record police performing their duties in public, subject to reasonable restrictions (including the 1st, 3d, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th Circuits).

Since 2023 several states have passed laws making it an offense to remain within a set distance (often 25 feet) of an officer after being told to move back. According to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (August 2025), the Seventh Circuit held Indiana’s 25-foot law unconstitutionally vague, a federal court blocked Louisiana’s law pending appeal, and Tennessee’s law is being challenged. Florida’s version took effect in January 2025.

If ordered to move back, you can comply and keep recording from the new distance. Say you are recording. Officers generally need a warrant to search your phone or delete footage.

The 2025 budget law (Public Law 119-21) requires states that cover the Medicaid expansion group to apply a “community engagement” requirement to non-pregnant adults aged 19–64 no later than January 1, 2027. Covered adults must show 80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program or half-time school, or monthly income of at least 80 times the federal minimum wage ($580 in 2026).

According to CMS, exemptions include pregnant people, people who are medically frail or disabled, parents and caretakers of children under 14, American Indians and Alaska Natives, veterans with a total disability rating, former foster youth under 26, people meeting SNAP or TANF work rules, and people in substance-use treatment.

If a state cannot verify compliance, it must give you 30 days to show that you meet the requirement or are exempt before denying or ending coverage. Medicaid decisions carry the right to a fair hearing; keep copies of pay stubs, school records and exemption documents.