【Secret Confessions (2025) Week 8 Highlights Episode 46】

Airports are Secret Confessions (2025) Week 8 Highlights Episode 46now the latest battleground for human rights, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order severely limiting immigration into the United States just one week into his presidency.

The order, which targets Muslim-majority nations, has garnered severe backlash from progressives and activists who showed up to international airports in droves to protest the ban.

SEE ALSO: Airport protests against Muslim ban spread across the U.S. via social media

But even with the current support, immigrants are still facing heightened fears while traveling, including the risk of being detained and deported. With such high stakes for immigrant communities, even stepping foot in an airport comes with life-disrupting possibilities.

When navigating such an order, it's important to know your rights. And even if you aren't an immigrant, knowing which rights immigrant communities have during travel is the first step toward being an informed, empowered bystander.

To educate yourself on the rights of immigrant communities during travel, check out the resources below.

1. The go-to travel resource for immigrants

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This comprehensive "Know Your Rights" guide from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) outlines the basic information immigrants need to know when they encounter law enforcement at airports.

The resource, which breaks down what to do when being questioned, searched and detained, answers common questions and concerns -- without the heavy jargon. Removing that barrier of legal language is a vital part of the guide, allowing anyone who feels at risk to have an essential understanding of their rights.

The guide also provides referrals to hotlines and complementary resources for more specialized information.

2. Resource on rights during detainment

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The simple graphic above from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), outlining the basics of what to do if you're detained, went viral after Trump signed his executive order on immigration. Along with this abridged resource, the ICIRR has a longer guide, which outlines what immigrants need to know when being detained.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

The resource says that immigrants should refuse to sign any paperwork without legal counsel, and encourages them to have three phone numbers memorized to be able to reach family and allies, if allowed.

The guide is available in both English and Spanish.

3. Resource on the rights of immigrant children

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In the immediate aftermath of Trump's executive action, those traveling from the countries listed in the order started being detained upon arrival to the U.S. One instance included a 5-year-old boy, whose mother was forced to wait hours for him to be released. In the days following, multiple stories of children being detained were reported.

This dedicated children's guide, created by the National Immigrant Justice Center, uses plain language to explain to those under the age of 18 what it means to be detained, and what their rights are. The guide was especially designed for unaccompanied minors, who may have difficulty navigating the complicated system.

The guide is available in English, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Somali and Spanish.

4. Resource on immigrant travel rights specific to the Trump era

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The National Immigration Law Center created a guide immediately after Trump's election in anticipation of his projected anti-immigrant policies. The resource outlines what immigrants need to do to assert their rights in a series of simple bullet points.

Along with the guide, the center provides an information card that those at risk of being detained can print in advance, and then hand to law enforcement invoking their right to remain silent and their right to a lawyer.

The guide is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Korean and Chinese.

5. Resource on the needs of LGBTQ immigrant communities

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

LGBTQ immigrants face unique challenges and risks when traveling. Not only can these groups be targeted by law enforcement for their immigration status, but they're often put at risk for their gender and sexuality. This especially includes transgender, non-binary or gender-nonconforming members of the community who have often been flagged for "anomalies" when passing through gendered TSA screeners.

All of the countries listed in Trump's executive order are regions where LGBTQ people can be lawfully killed for their identities, making the travel stakes especially high for these communities.

The National Immigrant Justice Center developed a resource specifically for people who are afraid to return to their home countries due to their sexuality, gender or HIV-status.

The resource is available in Arabic, English, French, Mandarin and Spanish. The National Center for Transgender Equality also has a guide, outlining the specific rights of trans and non-binary people -- including what to do if the gender marker on your identification doesn't match your gender identity or presentation.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Inauguration crowds were puny compared to Women's March crowds

---

Topics Social Good