Know Your Rights.
Find Your Resources.
A centralized portal connecting Houston's immigrant communities with legal tools, educational resources, and local support organizations.
Resource Categories
Click any category below to expand and explore available resources.
Family Immigration Raid Emergency Plan
Seven-step guide helping at-risk families prepare for deportation scenarios by identifying legal help, designating caregivers, organizing documents, and setting up power of attorney.
Visit Resource →Nonparent Child Care Authorization
TexasLawHelp.org toolkit guiding parents through an authorization agreement that lets a nonparent caregiver make temporary decisions for their child.
Visit Resource →Immigration Family Preparedness Plan
Fillable document to help families organize essential information, emergency contacts, and legal representation details in case a loved one is detained by immigration enforcement.
Visit Resource →Rapid Response Toolkit
Legal Aid Justice Center collection with planning guides, contact lists, guardianship and power of attorney forms, plus Know Your Rights videos for ICE encounters.
Visit Resource →Find a Loved One After an ICE Arrest
Step-by-step guide to locating someone detained by immigration authorities using the ICE online locator, field office contacts, and detention facility checks.
Visit Resource →Detained by Border Patrol
Explains constitutional rights for people detained by Border Patrol, including expedited removal procedures, document requirements by status, and rights during border searches.
Visit Resource →Termination of Parole Notices
Guidance for those whose parole is being terminated, outlining remaining rights to pursue immigration benefits and a federal court block affecting certain nationalities.
Visit Resource →I Need a Lawyer
Outlines constitutional rights to legal representation when arrested by police or detained by ICE, with guidance on requesting appointed counsel and finding legal resources.
Visit Resource →Challenge a Deportation Order
ACLU guide covering constitutional rights for immigrants facing deportation, including the right to a hearing and legal counsel, plus actions to take after arrest.
Visit Resource →Immigration Preparedness Toolkit
13-page Immigrant Legal Resource Center guide with in-depth info on immigration rights, ICE confrontations, legal options, and family preparedness for those without status.
Visit Resource →Know Your Rights
United We Dream guide on preparing for and responding to encounters with immigration enforcement, including rights during interactions with ICE and CBP.
Visit Resource →Know Your Rights Before a Raid
American Federation of Teachers resource on family preparedness for immigration enforcement, outlining steps to take before a raid and key questions families should address.
Visit Resource →Rights at the U.S.–Mexico Border
ACLU Texas resource outlining constitutional rights during border inspections, proper conduct during questioning and searches, and how to document officer misconduct.
Visit Resource →Rights in the 100-Mile Border Zone
Explains Fourth Amendment protections and CBP authority within 100 miles of U.S. borders, clarifying what officers can do and constitutional limits that still apply.
Visit Resource →Know Your Rights While Traveling
CAIR guide outlining airline passenger protections against discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin, plus how to document discriminatory incidents.
Visit Resource →Noncitizen Registration Requirement FAQ
Explains the noncitizen registration requirement effective April 11, 2025, who must register, documents that count as registration, and risks of filing Form G-325R without counsel.
Visit Resource →Know Your Rights as a Student
CAIR resource covering student rights including religious expression, prayer, holiday observance, and political speech in schools, available in nine languages.
Visit Resource →Know Your Rights as an Employee
Outlines Title VII protections covering religious accommodation, fair hiring, non-hostile workplaces, and anti-retaliation rights; PDFs available in nine languages.
Visit Resource →Know Your Rights Toolkit
Immigrant Legal Resource Center materials to help communities understand their rights and prepare for immigration encounters, with red cards, family plans, and training resources.
Visit Resource →Interactions with Law Enforcement
Know Your Rights guide on encounters with immigration enforcement across homes, workplaces, schools, and public spaces, emphasizing the right to remain silent and request counsel.
Visit Resource →Texas Immigration Laws
Explains key Texas immigration laws including driver prosecution, status inquiries during stops, Operation Lone Star criminal trespass, and SB4's expansion of enforcement authority.
Visit Resource →New American Economy — Economic Impact
Research and data on the economic contributions of immigrants, including tax revenue, business creation, and job growth.
Visit Resource →Houston Chronicle — Immigration Stories
Local journalism covering the immigrant experience in Houston, including success stories and community contributions.
Visit Resource →Immigration Research Initiative
Independent research institute providing evidence-based analysis on the positive impacts of immigration on communities.
Visit Resource →Immigrant Entrepreneurship in America
Data and stories highlighting how immigrants start businesses at higher rates and create jobs across the U.S. economy.
Visit Resource →Houston Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs
City of Houston office dedicated to welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into the Houston community.
Visit Resource →Migration Policy Institute
Nonpartisan research and analysis of immigration and refugee policies at local, national, and international levels.
Visit Resource →American Immigration Council
Fact sheets, policy briefs, and educational materials on all aspects of the U.S. immigration system.
Visit Resource →U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Official government resource for immigration forms, processing times, case status, and policy updates.
Visit Resource →TRAC Immigration — Syracuse University
Independent analysis of immigration enforcement data, court backlogs, asylum statistics, and detention trends.
Visit Resource →Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Houston-based research on urban issues including immigration, diversity, and community development in the Greater Houston area.
Visit Resource →Who We Are
Hello! We are What If?, a student-led initiative aiming to better improve the process of finding information and resources surrounding immigrant services by streamlining the process. We're doing this through partnerships with local Houston nonprofits and already existent research platforms, which we're building upon by integration of chatbot functions, as well as creating a site aiming to highlight the positive impacts immigrants have on our community.
Through these projects, we aim to contribute to immigrant service efforts here in Houston in ways that build on existing projects.
This project is affiliated with the Girl Scout Gold Award, which centers around targeting a specific issue in the Houston area with sustainable solutions.
Our Mission
What If? is a community-driven resource portal created to centralize and simplify access to immigration rights information for the Houston area. We believe that every person — regardless of immigration status — deserves access to accurate legal information and community support.
Why "What If?"
"What If?" is a question that drives change. What if every immigrant knew their rights? What if every community had access to the resources they need? We built this portal to turn those questions into action — guiding Houston's immigrant communities with confidence and dignity.
What We Do
- Curate and verify local immigration resources in the Greater Houston area
- Provide know-your-rights educational materials in accessible formats
- Connect community members with qualified legal service providers
- Highlight the positive contributions of immigrants in Houston
- Maintain an up-to-date, free, and accessible online portal
Disclaimer
This portal provides general information and resource referrals. It is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Always consult a qualified immigration attorney for guidance on your specific case.
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