LEAD Resources

Please note that these resources are not for public distribution. Please share responsibly and do not distribute to anyone outside of your organization.

Defending Equity Initiative

Guidelines for Preparing for and Responding to a Form I-9 (Employment Authorization) Audit

This is a document on guidelines for preparing for and responding to a form 1-9.

This document is current as of June 2025, but immigration laws and policies are subject to frequent change. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to their situation.

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Defending Equity Initiative

Guide to Employers: Preparing for ICE Raids and Sample Guidelines

This is a document on steps to prepare for potential ice worksite enforcement actions (raids).

This document is current as of June 2025, but immigration laws and policies are subject to frequent change. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to their situation.

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Defending Equity Initiative

Know Your Rights: Guidance for Employees in Connection with ICE Raids

This document is a resource that employees can share with employers to prepare for the possibility that they are approached by an ICE agent or official during a worksite enforcement action. It is not intended to be legal advice and both employers and employees are advised to consult with legal counsel on their personal rights and obligations.

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Defending Equity Initiative

Key Concepts re Immigration Audits and Raids in the Workplace

This is a document of key concepts and terms for immigration audits and raids in the workplace.

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Defending Equity Initiative

Political Activity by 501(c)(3) Organizations — What You Can’t Do and What You Can Do

This document share certain rules that 501(c)(3) organizations need to be aware of for such advocacy must be conducted and certain key boundaries that they must not cross. Failure to comply with such rules puts 501(c)(3) organizations at risk of losing their tax-exempt status.

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Defending Equity Initiative

Protecting Your Tax-Exempt Status — Is It Really at Risk? What Happens (and What Doesn’t) If You Lose It? How to Protect It and Get it Back?

In the wake of a new administration and the deterioration of the rule of law, many organizations are worried about losing their tax-exempt status unjustifiably. We hope this resource demystifies what losing tax-exempt status actually looks like, makes clear that it is not something that can be taken away easily, and highlights the basic actions you can take to protect it.

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Medium

Statement on Political Violence and the Fundamental Freedom of Speech

September 17, 2025

September 2025

This article condemns political violence and defends free speech as essential to democracy. It urges unity, protection of charitable work, and leadership that heals rather than divides.

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Democracy Protection Network

Resources for Civil Servants

February 10, 2025

February 2025

These self-serve resources offer a starting point for civil servants looking to better understand their rights and options.

Resources included within this compilation are solely informational. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement or legal advice.

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Democracy Protection Network

Readiness and Resilience-Building Resources

May 15, 2025

May 2025

Cybersecurity, Legal Compliance, Physical Security, and Crisis Communications for Civil Society

This guide is a starting point for those who seek to take self-directed preventative and resilience-building measures. Resources relevant to specific audiences (individuals, organizations, election officials, etc) have been noted as such. Resources included within are solely informational. Inclusion in this guide does not constitute an endorsement or legal advice.

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Protect Democracy

Protecting Civic Space: A Primer

September 1, 2024

September 2024

How to prepare your organization for politicized government investigations.

This guide is not meant to, and does not, offer legal advice. Any organization or individual who receives a government inquiry should consult with an attorney.

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Public Counsel

Know Your Rights: ICE Enforcement

This is a know your right document If you witness enforcement activity and If you see someone being detained.

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Public Counsel

Know Your Rights: Wellness Checks

This is a document about the Wellness Checks conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations. This is for ICE to ensure the unaccompanied minor is meeting their immigration obligations and ensuring that the child is not being subjected to crimes like human trafficking, etc. Generally, these visits are to ensure the wellbeing of the child and that the sponsor is following the ORR Sponsor Agreement.

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Public Counsel

Sample ICE Administrative Arrest Warrants

This is a document that shows real vs fake sample warrants from an ICE Administrative Arrest Warrant.

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Public Counsel

Registration Requirement: A Process of Notifying the Government of Your Presence as a Noncitizen in the U.S.

This is a document for Registration requirement, the risk of registering and not registering, what it can mean for you, and the deadline.

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Public Counsel

Important Phrases When Interacting with ICE

This is an document that has important phrases to know when interacting with ICE.

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Public Counsel

Creating a Family Plan: A Workbook for Immigrant Parents

This workbook is aimed to help parents who are facing a possible deportation make a plan for the care of their minor children in the event of a separation. This workbook does not provide legal advice. Families facing separation may want to talk with a lawyer about their specific situation.

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Public Counsel

FAQs: Nonprofit and Small Business Rights with Respect to Immigration Enforcement

January 1, 2025

January 2025

As a nonprofit or small business owner, it is critical to know your rights and responsibilities if immigration enforcement officials appear at your facility, office, or workplace. Here are some answers to common questions on this topic.

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Public Counsel

Know Your Rights: When Interacting with ICE (English & Spanish)

This resource outlines what to do in an encounter with ICE agents at your home, on the street, at work, or in a traffic stop.

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LEAD Race-Conscious Assessment Tool

May 1, 2025

May 2025

The Race-Conscious Assessment Tool helps organizations make informed decisions about whether, and if so how, to adjust their programs to align their goals with their risk tolerance.

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WA LEAD Communications Training (Part 1 of 2)

June 4, 2025

June 2025

This was a virtual training for non-profits and funders eager to understand the changing legal landscape.

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Final Coalition Letter: Opposing Efforts to Disrupt Abortion Coverage

June 3, 2025

June 2025

A coalition letter to urge opposition of efforts that make it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for individuals enrolled in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces to obtain and maintain insurance coverage for abortion.

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Strategic Threat Analysis and Response Tool to Monitor and Combat Disinformation

Developed in collaboration with Dr. Joan Donovan, this tool can help you sharpen your strategy and decide whether to intervene in disinformation that acts as a barrier to winning your campaign. It is designed for micro-landscape, campaign-based intervention with targeted audiences and is distinct from larger narrative intervention among broad audiences.

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Battle of the Story Worksheet

This exercise is intended to help create more compelling narratives to communicate grassroots campaigns. The Battle of the Story is a framework for applying a “narrative power analysis” to an issue — whether it’s the story that specific power holders are telling about the issue, or just the accepted status quo that we are campaigning to change.

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Checklist: What to Do If Immigration Officers (ICE) Visit Your Building

February 9, 2025

February 2025

Use this checklist in the event that immigration officers (ICE) show up at your building. Staying calm and following the correct steps can protect your rights and your employees.

Disclaimer: This checklist is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, consult an immigration attorney.

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LEAD for Racial Justice FAQ

March 1, 2025

March 2025

This FAQ sheet covers non-profit questions around efficacy and legality in light of legislative and executive branch decisions and actions.

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